More than 24 hours have passed since the protest against the Russian law was forcibly dispersed on April 16-17, 2024. During this operation, police officers physically assaulted several peaceful demonstrators.
According to public information, at least 10 additional cases of alleged police misconduct are under review by the Special Investigation Service, including three individuals who required hospitalization due to their injuries. Moreover, the Public Defender has reported that on April 17, police allegedly mistreated Member of Parliament Aleksandre Elisashvili.
Despite these serious allegations, the Special Investigation Service has not yet clarified its position or confirmed whether an investigation has been initiated or what steps have been taken. We emphasize that the Special Investigation Service was established as an independent body tasked with investigating crimes committed by law enforcement officers. It is crucial for the Service to act promptly and assure the public that such abusive behavior by police will not be tolerated by state institutions.
Alarmingly, media representatives performing their duties on the premises of Parliament were also subjected to physical assaults during the night of April 16. Such actions not only obstruct journalists in their work but also violate international standards, including the right to freedom of expression as protected by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Furthermore, unlawfully hindering a journalist in their professional activities constitutes a criminal offense.
We call on:
The Head of the Special Investigation Service, Koka Katsitadze, to immediately issue a public statement and provide a thorough legal assessment of the violent actions taken by police officers against protesters and journalists. Given the significant public interest, the Service must also disclose whether an investigation has been launched and share details of the investigative steps undertaken.
Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA)
Transparency International - Georgia (TI)
Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)
Rights Georgia (RG)
International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
Partnership for Human Rights (PHR)
Civil Society Foundation (CSF)
Women's Initiatives Supporting Group (WISG)
Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
Social Justice Center (SJC)
