Public Defender Reports Alarming Abuse of Protest Detainees in Georgia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Georgia's Public Defender, Levan Ioseliani, has raised serious concerns about alleged violence and inhumane treatment of detainees arrested during recent protests. According to Ioseliani, 124 out of 156 individuals - nearly 80% - claimed they were subjected to excessive force by police.
"This is a very disturbing number," Ioseliani stated. "If we look at the dynamics, including previous demonstrations, the number of citizens who claim that there was an excess of force on the part of the police is increasing alarmingly. I once again call on the police not to go beyond the norms established by the law and to use only legitimate force against citizens."
Ioseliani criticized what he described as a culture of impunity within law enforcement, warning that unchecked misconduct fosters escalating brutality. "When specific people are not punished for such misdemeanors, it becomes more and more brutal," he said.
He expressed particular outrage over attacks on journalists covering the protests, calling such incidents "monstrous." "It is unimaginable to treat people like this, to attack them - especially journalists who are doing their duty and reporting information, which is their constitutional right," Ioseliani remarked.
The Public Defender emphasized that law enforcement must adhere to legal standards and urged authorities to hold perpetrators accountable. "Such actions should be followed by concrete responsibility. It is absolutely unacceptable when the police overreach," he said.
He also called on protest participants to remain peaceful. "I ask the participants of the rally to try as much as possible not to go beyond the forms of peaceful expression of protest," Ioseliani added.
