Public Defender’s Office visits eight individuals arrested during transparency bill protests
Representatives of the Office of Public Defender of Georgia on Friday visited eight individuals detained amid ongoing protests against the bill on transparency of foreign influence in Tbilisi this week, the body said. Photo: Public Defender of Georgia
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Representatives of the Office of Public Defender of Georgia on Friday visited eight individuals detained amid ongoing protests against the bill on transparency of foreign influence in Tbilisi this week, the body said.
The Office visited arrested protesters including blogger Ucha Abashidze, who alleged psychological pressure and verbal abuse from law enforcement, with the Office handing over the claims to the Special Investigation Service.
Abashidze was arrested on charges of illegal purchase and storage of weapons and ammunition as part of an ongoing investigation into a cyberattack against the Interior Ministry, Justice Ministry and the Parliament, and told the Office he had “repeatedly asked for lawyer” representation during the search of his house but was not granted access.
The Office stressed the right to legal representation and added the protester should be granted the opportunity to meet with legal representation “immediately”.
It also said some of the individuals arrested during the protests had also reported “improper treatment” by law enforcement.
The body said its representatives were continuing to look for arrested protesters to gather information about conditions of their physical health and circumstances of detention.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on Friday said police had arrested an individual on charges of illegal purchase and storage of weapons and ammunition as part of an ongoing investigation into a cyber attack against the Interior Ministry, Justice Ministry and the Parliament.
Levan Ioseliani, the Georgian Public Defender, on Thursday stressed the importance of the law enforcement’s “strict and appropriate response” to “violent attacks” on representatives of the domestic opposition and participants of protests against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence in Tbilisi on Wednesday.
Levan Ioseliani, the Georgian Public Defender, on Wednesday called on protesters against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence to maintain a “peaceful form of gathering” while also urging law enforcement to “refrain from interfering with the freedom of expression of our citizens”.
Levan Ioseliani, the Georgian Public Defender, has responded to the police using “special means” to break up a “peaceful assembly” on Tuesday during protests in Tbilisi against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence.