Georgian NGO criticizes case on dispersal of protests in June

The authorities took a selective approach while investigating the case on dispersal of a protest rally in Tbilisi on June 20 and avoided the indicative punishment of the responsible persons, suggests the NGO "International Transparency-Georgia".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on June 21, law enforcers dispersed the protesters in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi. The Georgian Ministry for Public Health reported the hospitalization of 240 people. In the period from July 6 to 26, 19 activists were detained and accused of using violence during the protests, classified by the Prosecutor's Office as an attempt to overthrow the government. A case was also instituted against the law enforcers who were dispersing the rally.

Following the analysis of the dispersal of the protest rally, the NGO "International Transparency-Georgia" revealed the authorities' selective approach to the case, reports the NGO in its survey received by the "Caucasian Knot" on October 7.

"On June 20, the rally was dispersed with the use of disproportionate force and severe systemic violations, and that fact requires a quick and fair investigation," the NGO declares in its survey.

"Unfortunately, the government's steps so far do not demonstrate a desire to comprehensively and fairly investigate the case. Moreover, the intensity of investigative actions against protestors has signs of a selective approach," states the NGO's survey.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on October 8, 2019 at 05:42 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.