On November 18, 2024, the Public Defender of Georgia submitted a proposal to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia regarding the production and publication of full statistical data on the use of the measure of administrative detention.

The Public Defender’s Office considered the application of the Social Justice Center regarding the restriction of the right to access to public information by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. The information posted on the Ministry's website does not elaborate on the number of persons detained for the offences provided for in Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offences Code (as not all detained persons are placed in the temporary isolation facility). Without quantitative data, it is difficult to assess the extent of problems related to both detention and extension of the detention period without the relevant need.

The Public Defender of Georgia has been pointing out the challenges related to the legality of administrative detention in parliamentary reports for years, noting that the harmful practice of detention is usually used against participants in various peaceful assemblies.

The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia:

• To produce full statistical data on the use of administrative detention provided for in Article 245 of the Administrative Offences Code (including complete statistical data reflecting the detention of persons who have committed violations referred to in Articles 166 and 173);
• At the same time, the processing of statistical data should be carried out in such a way that the information on the number of detained persons, who were not placed in temporary detention isolators, should be specified;
• Processed information/statistical data should be posted quarterly on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.