Responding to renewed unlawful use of force by police against peaceful protesters in Tbilisi following parliament’s decision to approve “foreign influence” legislation in Georgia, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:
“As the Georgian authorities push through this harmful legislation, they have openly endorsed the repression of human rights and civil society, which has escalated to alarming levels in recent days.”
As the Georgian authorities push through this harmful legislation, they have openly endorsed the repression of human rights and civil society, which has escalated to alarming levels in recent days
“The way this bill has been passed — with political opponents silenced by legal procedures in the corridors of power, as protestors were mercilessly beaten and arrested outside amid a police crackdown — demonstrates the harmful impact of this legislation, which clearly takes aim at human rights.
“We call on the Georgian authorities to cease their efforts to crush the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. They must urgently reject this repressive legislation. All those suspected of responsibility for human rights violations, including police officers who resorted to unlawful use of force, must be brought to justice, up to the highest level of the chain of command.”
Background
On 13 May, the Legal Committee of the Georgian Parliament voted to approve the “foreign influence” bill during a session that lasted less than two minutes. Many parliamentarians were unable to participate in the vote as the building was effectively cordoned off by police.
On Saturday evening, tens of thousands protested in Tbilisi, several hundred of whom decided to stay overnight outside the Parliament in a show of resistance.
On Sunday evening, the police responded to peaceful protests against the bill with unlawful force, resulting in injuries among the protesters. At least 20 demonstrators were reported arrested.