Public Defender’s Statement
Representatives of the Public Defender have left to visit the citizens detained in the morning hours of November 19, 2024, including those physically injured and hospitalized, according to the reports.
The Public Defender notes that when the Ministry of Internal Affairs started[1] arresting the participants in the rally on Melikishvili Avenue (at 08:18, 19.11.2024), the rally was peaceful and conformed to the standards of freedom of assembly. At that time, there might be ill-treatment of citizens by the police or use of excessive force. According to the reports, among those arrested is journalist Sergi Baramidze, who was performing professional activities at the time of his arrest. Crimes were reportedly committed against other journalists as well. The Public Defender emphatically notes that it is not allowed to interfere with journalists’ professional activities.
The Public Defender calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure freedom of peaceful assembly of protestors, not to prevent journalists from carrying out their activities, and to strictly observe the criteria of necessity and proportionality when using detention measures or special equipment. In addition, the Public Defender calls on the Special Investigation Service to investigate each case containing elements of an alleged crime against journalists/demonstrators and to provide information to the public.
In addition, we’d like to inform the public that on November 16, 2024, the Public Defender’s Office also visited three citizens arrested in front of the Central Election Commission building. One of the detained citizens indicated that he became a victim of ill-treatment by the police, while all three of them indicated unethical treatment and verbal abuse.
The Public Defender’s Office has appropriately responded to all three cases and applied to the Special Investigation Service and the General Inspection Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The Public Defender’s Office reminds citizens that they can contact us at any time regarding each violation of rights via hotline - 1481, which works 24 hours a day.
