Prepared by Messenger Staff
Transparency International and Civil Society Foundation Submit Amicus Curiae Brief in Georgia's Election Lawsuit
Transparency International Georgia and the Civil Society Foundation have jointly filed a friend of the court brief in the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The brief supports President Salome Zourabichvili's lawsuit, which challenges the official results of the October 26 parliamentary elections.
The brief, based on evidence from My Vote observers, highlights violations of fundamental electoral principles, including breaches of ballot secrecy, universal suffrage, and the free expression of voters' will. These violations are said to contravene both Georgia's Constitution and international human rights law.
Filed on November 20, President Zourabichvili's lawsuit argues that the election results are unconstitutional due to these violations. The Constitutional Court has yet to decide whether the appeal will be accepted for further review.
21-Year-Old Protester Faces 7 Years for Alleged Police Assault
The Georgian Interior Ministry announced on November 21 the arrest of 21-year-old Mate Devidze, who is accused of attacking police officers during a protest on November 19 in central Tbilisi. The charges, filed under Article 353¹ of Georgia's Criminal Code, relate to the alleged physical assault of officers and carry a potential prison sentence of up to seven years.
According to the Ministry, Devidze "attacked policemen and inflicted bodily injuries by beating them with a stick" during the protest on Melikishvili Avenue, which followed the violent dispersal of demonstrators near Tbilisi State University. Footage aired by Rustavi 2 TV shows Devidze swinging a stick in the direction of a police officer amid a chaotic chase. However, it is unclear from the footage how the officer was affected.
The November 19 protests stemmed from public discontent over alleged fraud in the October 26 parliamentary elections. Authorities faced criticism for their heavy-handed response to peaceful demonstrations, including reports of violence against protesters and journalists.
