UN Human Rights Experts Urge Georgian Authorities to Investigate Police Violence During Protests
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Independent experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council are calling on the Georgian government to urgently investigate allegations of excessive force used by law enforcement during protests in November and December 2024. The experts emphasized the need for accountability and concrete measures to prevent further violence, including allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and arbitrary detention of peaceful demonstrators and media workers.
"We have received credible reports of intentional violence, threats, intimidation, and retaliation against peaceful protesters, human rights defenders, and journalists by law enforcement officials in Georgia, as well as by individuals without uniforms or identifying insignia," the experts stated.
These actions, they stressed, could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. The experts pointed out that the scale and severity of the incidents, including the widespread use of rubber bullets, water cannons, pepper spray, and other chemical irritants, could be indicative of systemic abuses.
Reports indicate that hundreds of demonstrators were injured, many suffering serious head and facial injuries. A significant number of protesters were arrested and denied access to legal representation or the ability to notify their families of their whereabouts. Allegations also include verbal abuse, physical beatings, threats of sexual violence, and the denial of medical care for those in detention.
While the Special Investigation Service of Georgia has opened an inquiry into the events, the experts expressed concern over the lack of progress, with many detainees still in custody and no clear outcomes from the investigation so far.
The letter urged Georgian authorities to ensure an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the use of force and subsequent treatment of protesters, in line with international standards. They also called for the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained and for the provision of medical care where necessary.
The experts reminded the government that any use of force by security forces must adhere to the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and non-discrimination, emphasizing that the right to life and physical integrity must be protected.
In a letter to the Georgian authorities, the experts have requested a report detailing the measures taken to prevent torture and other abuses, particularly during peaceful assemblies and in places of detention, and reiterated their commitment to closely monitoring the situation moving forward.
