We call our friends and international partners and actors to support legitimate & peaceful protestors in Georgia!
Please share messages & statements of solidarity and use all international mechanisms to ensure freedom of expression & assembly of the peaceful manifestants.
What you can do:
- Share this post or information about ongoing protest in Georgia and stand in solidarity with peaceful manifestants;
- Engage in protection of peaceful manifestants by planning long-term monitoring and observation missions, e.g. trial observations of detainees or ongoing protest;
- Collect evidences of human rights violations, prepare & share reports and advocate it internationally.
Background information, facts & evidences (To be updated)
November 28: Police used excessive and illegitimate force and violated rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. At least 43 manifestants have been detained, some of them physically injured and attacked by the police officers. Police massively attacked media representatives, at least 22 of them have been injured, hospitalized and some of them in need of medical treatment.
On November 28, Georgia’s prime minister announced that Georgia would not pursue the path towards EU integration, or seek financial assistance, until 2028. Suspending EU accession negotiation contradicts Georgia’s strategic interests and article 78 of the Constitution. This sparked impromptu protest in the cities of Georgia: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi, Gori and Batumi.
CSO’s joint group for legal support is providing free legal aid to detainees:
‘’It is particularly challenging that that the detainees are being deliberately concealed from us. According to our information at least 43 individuals have been detained, whereas lawyers are being obstructed from performing their professional duties and detainees right to legal defense is violated. We assume, that majority of detainees have physical injuries, lawyers already reported physical injuries of those who they managed to visit.’’ – Lado Mkervalishvili, Director of ‘’Rights Georgia’’.
Below we share currently available information about injured and detained media representatives & protestors based on the publicly shared sources & information provided by our partners and member organization lawyers of the legal support group (information to be updated).
- Mariam Nikuradze (journalist, “OC media”):
Police unlawfully interfered with her journalistic activities while Mariam was covering the protest. Her phone/camera was damaged by the police , tear gas & water cannon was intentionally directed towards her. Source
- Alexandre Keshelashvili (journalist, “Publika”)
He was detained and beaten by the police officers, he needed hospitalization. Source
- Guram Rogava (Jounralist, “Formula TV”)
Guram was brutally beaten by the special police forces, he was attacked while he was holding a microphone and broadcasting live/covering protest. He is hospitalized with several heavy injuries and is in need of further medical treatment.
- Elene Khostaria, an opposition leader
She broke her arm during a violent dispersal. Source
- Nana Malashkhia, opposition leader
She broke her nose during a violent dispersal. Source
- Dato Tsagareli, (Journalist, Radio Liberty)
Dato was punched in the stomach and knocked to the ground by special forces officer during a live broadcast. Source
