Rights defenders point to drawbacks of emergency state in two Georgian districts

Policemen are excessively tough in performing their duties under the state of emergency in Marneuli and Bolnisi Districts, the NGO "Centre for Human Rights Training and Monitoring" has stated. Residents of the districts, having lost their earnings due to isolation, need social support, human rights defenders believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that since March 21, Georgia is under the state of emergency; and two districts of the Kvemo Kartli Region – the Marneuli and Bolnisi Districts are under tough quarantine. Since March 31, a general quarantine and curfew have been announced in Georgia.

In their turn, 16 Georgian NGOs have recommended the country's government and the Mayoralties of Marneuli and Bolnisi to consider the issue of employment, and social and humanitarian help to the families left without income due to the state of emergency, the above NGO "Human Rights Training and Monitoring" said in its statement sent to "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. The NGO activists have also called on the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to take practical steps towards the unethical behaviour of policemen in performing their duties under the state of emergency.

Some residents of the above two districts complain that they were fined unjustifiably for violating the state of emergency. "In a number of cases, facts have been recorded ... of unethical communication," says the NGO's statement.

Because of the travel ban, most of the families have lost their incomes – they cannot work, human rights defenders have noted. "Villagers say that after the introduction of the quarantine, foodstuff prices have gone up; and they cannot buy them. The authorities fail to provide social help to the population," says the statement.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 1, 2020 at 02:04 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.