EU, UK ambassadors urge transparent investigation of response to rallies in Tbilisi
Ambassadors posted the same message on their official Twitter accounts today, calling on “all sides” to prioritise dialogue. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Ambassadors of the European Union, Lithuania, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to Georgia are urging for a transparent investigation into the police response to the June 20 rallies in Tbilisi.
Carl Hartzell, Giedrius Puodziunas, Justin McKenzieSmith and Jos Douma posted the same message on their official Twitter accounts today, calling on “all sides” to prioritise dialogue.
We urge transparent, swift and conclusive investigations into possible excessive use of force on 20/06 and any actions inciting violence leading up to police response. Involvement of @Ombudsman_Geo vital. We again call on all sides to prioritise dialogue and compromise.
— Carl Hartzell (@CarlHartzellEU) June 28, 2019
We urge transparent, swift and conclusive investigations into possible excessive use of force on 20/06 and any actions inciting violence leading up to police response. Involvement of @Ombudsman_Geo vital. We again call on all sides to prioritise dialogue and compromise.
— Giedrius Puodziunas (@Puodziunas_G) June 28, 2019
We urge transparent, swift & conclusive investigations into possible excessive use of force on 20 June and any actions inciting violence leading up to police response. Involvement of Public Defender vital. We again call on all sides to prioritise dialogue and compromise #Tbilisi
— Justin McKenzieSmith (@JustinMcKenzieS) June 28, 2019
We urge transparent, swift & conclusive investigations into possible excessive use of force on 20/6 and any violent actions / incitement to violence leading up 2 police response
— Jos Douma (@Jos_Douma) June 28, 2019
Involvement of Public Defender vital. We again call on all sides to prioritise dialogue and compromise
June 20 events at a glance:
- Rallies in central Tbilisi were sparked by an address of a Russian MP from the seat of the Georgian parliamentary speaker on June 20, during the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy.
- Police dispersed demonstrators later that day “as they disobeyed law enforcers and tried to rush in the parliament building.”
- 305 individuals were detained and 240 injured during the dispersal, with more than 100 still remain in custody.
- Protesters have been demanding the dismissal of Parliament Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze, Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia, snap parliamentary elections with proportional electoral system and the release of detainees.
- The government has met the demands regarding Kobakhidze and holding the elections with the proportional system.
- Rallies are scheduled to continue until “all the demands are met,” the opposition say.
EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has made his first comments regarding June 20 events and following rallies in Tbilisi, praising the offer of the Georgian Dream ruling party on elections and urged the investigation of rally dispersal in central Tbilisi last week.
Ten law enforcers have been suspended from duty due to possible abuse of power during the June 20-21 rally in central Tbilisi, sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in Georgia, the Georgian Interior Ministry says.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into police actions during the June 20-21 rallies in central Tbilisi, which left 305 detained and 240 injured.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir denounced “the violent incidents and mistreatment of media workers” during the June 20’s demonstration in Tbilisi, saying that “journalists’ safety must be ensured at all times”.
Peaceful demonstrators have gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in central Tbilisi for the tenth consecutive day today, again demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia. The protesters marched from the First Republic Square to the Freedom Square in sign of peaceful protest before they would resume the demonstration in front ot the parliament of Georgia.
A total of 35 students from eleven different universities of Georgia have addressed the ruling Georgian Dream party Chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili to support the establishment of a state advisory council of youth aimed at strengthening communication between the government and youth.
One of the men detained for incitement to violence at June 20 rally in Tbilisi, Soso Bajelidze, has been released on 5,000 GEL ($1,677) bail earlier on September 16.
Tbilisi City Court has left Zurab Budagashvili, Tsotne Tsotniashvili, Besik Tamliani, Tsotne Soselia and Kakhaber Kupreishvili in pretrial detention for possible incitement to violence during the June 20 rally in Tbilisi.