The Public Defender of Georgia is monitoring the protest rally being held in Tbilisi.

According to the preliminary assessment, at 02:00 on November 29, the rally taking place on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi was peaceful and the freedom of assembly was violated when law enforcement agencies began to disperse the demonstration using special equipment. Footage shows the use of disproportionate force against citizens by special forces. The Public Defender has repeatedly explained in the past that when individual participants in the demonstration violate the limits of a peaceful assembly, individual - necessary and proportionate measures should be taken against them. Contrary to the above, law enforcement agencies began to use special equipment against participants in the assembly, including peaceful demonstrators, which contradicts the standard of necessary and proportionate interference with the right.

Citizens might be ill-treated or excessive force might be used by the police, therefore the Public Defender calls on the Special Investigation Service to promptly investigate alleged criminal acts committed by law enforcement officers.

Additionally, the Public Defender emphasizes that it is unacceptable to interfere with journalists’ professional activities, which also occurred during the ongoing protest. It is important for the Special Investigation Service to respond to this fact in a timely manner.

Additionally, we’d like to inform the public that the Public Defender's representatives have already left to visit the persons detained and injured during the protest, and we will provide additional information to the public.