(Photo is used for illustrative purposes, sourced from the AFP database)
Protests are currently ongoing in Georgia, demanding the resignation of the government and the resumption of Georgia’s integration process with the European Union. The protests were triggered by the systemic policies of the ruling party, Georgian Dream, which initially sparked public outrage with the adoption of the "foreign agents" law. According to opposition claims, the situation worsened with alleged interference in parliamentary elections, which were reportedly held with numerous violations. In response, the government announced in November that EU integration would be suspended until 2028. The protests are also fueled by public concern over the growing influence of Russia on the Georgian government and its domestic policies, as well as actions by the government that conflict with democratic standards and citizens' expectations.
Although demonstrators have been protesting since the introduction of the "Russian draft law" (as the "foreign agents" law is called) in the fall of 2023, the protests escalated in late November 2024 following the decision to halt EU integration. Protesters are demanding the resignation of the Georgian Dream-led government and calling for a transparent and democratic path toward EU membership.
According to media reports, the police have been using water cannons, tear gas, and stun grenades to suppress and disperse demonstrators. Footage from the protests shows police using physical force during arrests, dragging people across the asphalt to police vehicles, and beating those incapacitated by the effects of tear gas. Reports indicate that police officers have assaulted protesters lying on the ground, unable to get up. Since the start of active protests in late November, more than 200 persons have reportedly been detained, including peaceful demonstrators, civic activists, politicians, journalists, and attorneys.
According to attorneys from the Legal Aid Network, most detainees on 2 December 2024 were severely beaten. Some are now in medical facilities with bruises all over their bodies and facial injuries, including broken noses and jaws. All hospitalized individuals suffered concussions, multiple contusions, and hematomas, and are struggling to move and speak.
The international community is closely monitoring the human rights situation in Georgia. Amnesty International condemned the harsh suppression of peaceful protests after they began and called for proper respect for citizens' right to defence, the release of those wrongfully detained for exercising their freedom of assembly, and investigations into the excessive use of force by law enforcement.
On 30 November 2024, the Chair of the Georgian Bar Association, Davit Asatiani, issued a statement on the Bar’s official page: "Unfortunately, some law enforcement officers have used disproportionate force and, in some cases, cruelty. … People have the right to assemble peacefully and protest any issue. If someone acts outside the bounds of peaceful protest, it must be addressed through lawful methods and individual responsibility, not through mass persecution or arrests of other demonstrators." In his statement, Davit noted that during the events of the night of 29–30 November, several attorneys were injured (they received medical care and are thankfully in stable condition), and several were detained.
"I appeal to the Special Investigative Service to promptly and effectively investigate every case of force used and identify all responsible parties," Asatiani said. "I urge the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure law and order using only legal mechanisms, avoid any instances of excessive force by law enforcement, and enable attorneys to carry out their professional duties in detention facilities without hindrance."
Public sources report the detention of one attorney, Beka Basilay, who was arrested while giving an interview to TV Pirveli. As a result, he spent three days in detention. "I would like to appeal to the families of the detainees and the detainees themselves to remain strong. This struggle will undoubtedly end in victory," stated Beka Basilay upon his release, after which he returned to the protests in Tbilisi.
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) regularly publishes updates and statements about the situation, documenting human rights violations. GYLA believes that the systematic and violent repression of peaceful citizens should be regarded as a crime against humanity, potentially warranting referral to the International Criminal Court. "There are grounds to believe that state institutions are directly and systematically involved in committing this crime, as evidenced by the following facts: 1) The Ministry of Internal Affairs, despite publicly available footage of torture, refuses to identify police officers involved in dispersing demonstrations; 2) To date, the Special Investigative Service has not identified a single responsible party; 3) The public has not been adequately informed about the content of investigative and procedural actions undertaken by this body; 4) To date, no criminal cases have been initiated against police officers who committed violence against protesters and/or journalists; 5) Courts issue blanket decisions, ignoring individual circumstances, and impose administrative penalties on unlawfully detained protesters and victims of torture."
GYLA has announced that it will monitor “political” criminal cases in court (according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as of 5 December, 18 persons had been detained on criminal charges).
The Right to Defence project editorial team would like to express solidarity with our colleagues—attorneys and human rights defenders in Georgia. We remember how important it was to feel the support of colleagues during the height of mass repression against attorneys and legal professionals in Belarus. Therefore, we want to support those exercising their right to express their opinions, those tirelessly fulfilling their professional duty by defending detained citizens, and those fighting for not only their clients’ right to a fair trial, freedom of speech, and freedom of association but also the fundamental principles of the rule of law.
We sincerely hope that attorneys in Georgia will continue to perform their duties in a spirit of respect for the legal profession, without fear of losing their status or facing prosecution. We wish the Georgian bar continued professionalism and independence.
Our project invites other Belarusian legal and human rights organisations to join this statement.
Protests are currently ongoing in Georgia, demanding the resignation of the government and the resumption of Georgia’s integration process with the European Union. The protests were triggered by the systemic policies of the ruling party, Georgian Dream, which initially sparked public outrage with the adoption of the "foreign agents" law. According to opposition claims, the situation worsened with alleged interference in parliamentary elections, which were reportedly held with numerous violations. In response, the government announced in November that EU integration would be suspended until 2028. The protests are also fueled by public concern over the growing influence of Russia on the Georgian government and its domestic policies, as well as actions by the government that conflict with democratic standards and citizens' expectations.
Although demonstrators have been protesting since the introduction of the "Russian draft law" (as the "foreign agents" law is called) in the fall of 2023, the protests escalated in late November 2024 following the decision to halt EU integration. Protesters are demanding the resignation of the Georgian Dream-led government and calling for a transparent and democratic path toward EU membership.
According to media reports, the police have been using water cannons, tear gas, and stun grenades to suppress and disperse demonstrators. Footage from the protests shows police using physical force during arrests, dragging people across the asphalt to police vehicles, and beating those incapacitated by the effects of tear gas. Reports indicate that police officers have assaulted protesters lying on the ground, unable to get up. Since the start of active protests in late November, more than 200 persons have reportedly been detained, including peaceful demonstrators, civic activists, politicians, journalists, and attorneys.
According to attorneys from the Legal Aid Network, most detainees on 2 December 2024 were severely beaten. Some are now in medical facilities with bruises all over their bodies and facial injuries, including broken noses and jaws. All hospitalized individuals suffered concussions, multiple contusions, and hematomas, and are struggling to move and speak.
The international community is closely monitoring the human rights situation in Georgia. Amnesty International condemned the harsh suppression of peaceful protests after they began and called for proper respect for citizens' right to defence, the release of those wrongfully detained for exercising their freedom of assembly, and investigations into the excessive use of force by law enforcement.
On 30 November 2024, the Chair of the Georgian Bar Association, Davit Asatiani, issued a statement on the Bar’s official page: "Unfortunately, some law enforcement officers have used disproportionate force and, in some cases, cruelty. … People have the right to assemble peacefully and protest any issue. If someone acts outside the bounds of peaceful protest, it must be addressed through lawful methods and individual responsibility, not through mass persecution or arrests of other demonstrators." In his statement, Davit noted that during the events of the night of 29–30 November, several attorneys were injured (they received medical care and are thankfully in stable condition), and several were detained.
"I appeal to the Special Investigative Service to promptly and effectively investigate every case of force used and identify all responsible parties," Asatiani said. "I urge the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure law and order using only legal mechanisms, avoid any instances of excessive force by law enforcement, and enable attorneys to carry out their professional duties in detention facilities without hindrance."
Public sources report the detention of one attorney, Beka Basilay, who was arrested while giving an interview to TV Pirveli. As a result, he spent three days in detention. "I would like to appeal to the families of the detainees and the detainees themselves to remain strong. This struggle will undoubtedly end in victory," stated Beka Basilay upon his release, after which he returned to the protests in Tbilisi.
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) regularly publishes updates and statements about the situation, documenting human rights violations. GYLA believes that the systematic and violent repression of peaceful citizens should be regarded as a crime against humanity, potentially warranting referral to the International Criminal Court. "There are grounds to believe that state institutions are directly and systematically involved in committing this crime, as evidenced by the following facts: 1) The Ministry of Internal Affairs, despite publicly available footage of torture, refuses to identify police officers involved in dispersing demonstrations; 2) To date, the Special Investigative Service has not identified a single responsible party; 3) The public has not been adequately informed about the content of investigative and procedural actions undertaken by this body; 4) To date, no criminal cases have been initiated against police officers who committed violence against protesters and/or journalists; 5) Courts issue blanket decisions, ignoring individual circumstances, and impose administrative penalties on unlawfully detained protesters and victims of torture."
GYLA has announced that it will monitor “political” criminal cases in court (according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as of 5 December, 18 persons had been detained on criminal charges).
The Right to Defence project editorial team would like to express solidarity with our colleagues—attorneys and human rights defenders in Georgia. We remember how important it was to feel the support of colleagues during the height of mass repression against attorneys and legal professionals in Belarus. Therefore, we want to support those exercising their right to express their opinions, those tirelessly fulfilling their professional duty by defending detained citizens, and those fighting for not only their clients’ right to a fair trial, freedom of speech, and freedom of association but also the fundamental principles of the rule of law.
We sincerely hope that attorneys in Georgia will continue to perform their duties in a spirit of respect for the legal profession, without fear of losing their status or facing prosecution. We wish the Georgian bar continued professionalism and independence.
Our project invites other Belarusian legal and human rights organisations to join this statement.
