Human Rights Watch: Georgian gov’t should investigate the use of force during June 20 rally
The Georgian Interior Ministry warned demonstrators before the dispersal. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Human Rights Watch has reacted to the June 20 demonstration in Tbilisi, triggered by the presence of Russian MPs in Georgia, and urged the Georgian government to investigate the use of force during the rally which left 240 injured.
Riot police in Tbilisi fired rubber bullets and used tear gas without warning against thousands of nonviolent protesters outside the Georgian Parliament on June 20, 2019,” the statement reads.
Human Rights Watch says that “it is urgent for the authorities” to instruct the police to adhere to the rules on the use of force under international law.
Those rules require the police to use only strictly proportionate force in response to any threat posed by protesters, and to resort to measures such as rubber bullets only as a last resort,” the statement reads.
The rally was dispersed by police after demonstrators ignored the appeal of the Interior Ministry to obey law enforcers and decided to break into the parliament building.
Before the dispersal the Interior Ministry released a statement urging the people to obey police and act peacefully.
The same was repeated by Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia at the scene, who told the demonstrators that their protest “was fair” but they should have acted peacefully as otherwise law enforcers would have to hold them accountable.
240 individuals were hospitalised after yesterday’s rally in Tbilisi, many of them with minor injuries, 80 were law enforcers, Deputy Health Minister Zaza Bokhua stated earlier today while visiting patients at the Ingorokva Clinic in Tbilisi.
International media outlets have responded to the June 20 developments in Tbilisi where people held a protest rally during the visit of Russian MPs to Tbilisi. The BBC reports that Georgian opposition MPs called for protests in response to Russian MP Gavrilov’s decision to deliver a speech from the parliamentary speaker's seat.
The United National Movement opposition party says that a demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue will be held at 7 p.m. today as the current Georgian Dream state leadership “has turned into a regime,” and the Georgian people “no longer want their leadership.” The opposition has three demands regarding top officials and elections.
The Georgian media reported that the number of journalists, cameramen and photographers representing a number of local news organisations is increasing after the recent clash in central Tbilisi.
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović has called on "all sides" of the clashes in Tbilisi to "resolve any controversies through peaceful dialogue" after the confrontation left 240 individuals injured on Thursday night.
The Georgian Patriarchate says the government made a mistake which made people rally in central Tbilisi yesterday and that the opposition has been making ‘incorrect calls’ which gave rise to tensions during the demonstration.
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that “destructive opposition forces,” which managed to transform the Georgian people’s “fair and sincere protest” into violence, fled the scene when unrest erupted and abandoned demonstrators.
32 journalists received injuries during the June 20 demonstration in Tbilisi, many of them were shot by rubber bullet shots, the Georgian Charter of Journalist Ethics said earlier today.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that no question marks must remain regarding the June 20 rally dispersal in Tbilisi, which came after groups of demonstrators tried to storm the parliament building.
Human Rights Watch has released its annual review of human rights around the world including in Georgia, reflecting developments in 2020. The report on Georgia focuses on COVID-19, parliamentary elections, lack of accountability for law enforcement abuses, freedom of media, labour rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, drug policy and key international partners.