The Council of Europe Commissioner Michael O'Flaherty on April 21 urged Georgia to ensure accountability for law enforcement actions and to repeal restrictive legislation affecting civil society, following a recent visit to Georgia.
In a statement issued a week after the trip, O'Flaherty said his meetings with Georgian Dream officials, other authorities, and civil society representatives focused on "the continued lack of accountability of state agents for the violent dispersal of protests in 2024 and early 2025," as well as "the increasing restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association and on the human rights of persons in and displaced from the occupied territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia."
He thanked the authorities "for their cooperation and their availability at a high level," while also commending "the resilience of civil society, human rights defenders, and journalists who continue to work within an increasingly restrictive environment."
The Commissioner revisited concerns raised after his January 2025 visit, pointing to "the lack of accountability for allegations of unlawful arrests and excessive use of force against protesters and journalists by law enforcement and unidentified masked individuals."
While welcoming a proposal requiring "all law enforcement personnel" to wear visible identification numbers, he said he "remains concerned that no law enforcement officers have been brought to justice for the violent dispersal of protests in 2024 and early 2025." He also reiterated his call for "an independent and thorough inquiry into the use of water cannons containing chemical substances against protesters."
Turning to legislation, O'Flaherty warned of the cumulative impact of new restrictions. Measures adopted in 2025 include requirements for prior notification of protests, powers allowing police to change the time or location of demonstrations, and provisions enabling authorities to prohibit protesters from "blocking" pavements.
He also raised concern over tougher penalties, including imprisonment for repeat violations. The amendments "significantly limit the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and seem to be incompatible with the principles of necessity and proportionality" under the European Convention on Human Rights, he said.
O'Flaherty further warned about the "chilling effect" of laws related to "foreign influence" on civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and journalists, as well as ongoing administrative and criminal proceedings against dozens of groups over foreign funding or alleged involvement in aggravated sabotage.
"While increasing transparency regarding the funding of CSOs may be a legitimate objective, the wide-ranging restrictions appear inconsistent with the criteria of legality, legitimacy, necessity and proportionality," he said, adding that they also conflict "with the principle of non-discrimination."
"I call for repeal of the GEOFARA law and for repeal or substantial revision of other oppressive legislation to ensure compliance with the Convention," he said.
"I further recall that CSOs, HRDs and journalists play an essential role in safeguarding human rights and civic space," he added, calling on authorities to ensure that ongoing proceedings against civil society groups comply with the state's obligations.
The Commissioner also addressed the situation of people living in and displaced from the occupied regions, marking his first engagement on the issue in this role.
"I acknowledge the efforts of the Georgian authorities to provide assistance, including free healthcare and education, to persons in and displaced from these territories," he said after meeting internally displaced persons in the Tserovani settlement.
At the same time, he noted that "IDPs continue to face challenges with integration" and called for "sustained attention" to housing, employment, and education needs.
He also commended support for the right of displaced persons to return to their homes "under conditions of safety and dignity," as well as their freedom of movement across occupation lines, adding that he would continue to focus on these issues.
