December 3, 2024
Cited article by BBC News
HRRC strongly condemns any form of police brutality and stands firmly against the use of excessive force. HRRC also highlights that the right to peaceful protest is a fundamental human right that must be respected and protected.
News Brief
Georgia witnessed its fourth night of street demonstrations in the aftermath of public resignations, triggered by the ruling party’s decision to suspend a push to start talks on joining the European Union (EU). Georgia’s authoritarian government has been accused by the EU and the U.S. of democratic backsliding. As a result, the U.S. recently suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia.
As tens of thousands of Georgians headed to the streets of several cities, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said they had fallen victim to opposition lies and he rejected a call from the pro-Western president for new elections. Kobakhidze sought to deny the reason for the protests, saying, “[W]e have not suspended anything, it's a lie”.
Pro-EU protesters were out in large numbers, and the police responded with water cannons. Many protesters were detained, including Zurab Japaridze, one of the leaders of the opposition alliance, Coalition for Change. Many Georgians have been shocked by the level of violence directed at journalists as well as protesters; dozens of reporters have been beaten or pepper sprayed. Georgia’s human rights ombudsman Levan Ioseliani described the police acts as acts of brutality, and he appealed to police not to abuse their power.