ECHR starts hearings in cases of Georgian journalists, protesters injured during June 20 rally dispersal
The rally, which united opposition politicians and ordinary citizens in condemning the Russian delegation’s visit to Georgia earlier on June 20, 2019 turned into a violent clash between the protesters and police in front of the parliament of Georgia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge archive
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The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has launched hearings in cases concerning the excessive use of force by the state and the failure to conduct an effective investigation into the actions taken against journalists and protesters during the dispersal of a rally in June 20-21, 2019.
The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) sent two applications to the ECHR on April 7, 2021, on behalf of 22 individuals (10 protesters, 11 journalists and 1 passerby) injured during the dispersal.
The applicants claim that during the dispersal of the rally, the state has violated a number of articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including:
- Article 3 - prohibition of torture
- Article 10 - freedom of expression (only in the case of media representatives)
- Article 11 freedom of assembly and association (only in the case of demonstrators)
- Article 13 - right to an effective remedy
GYLA has reported earlier today that the ECHR has addressed the government of Georgia with the relevant questions about all of the alleged violations.
Late at night on June 20-21, a rally triggered by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament was dispersed with tear gas and rubber bullets when demonstrators tried to break a police cordon and enter the parliament building back. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
The state has to respond by September 3 whether the rights of the protesters and journalists were violated or not. It should also submit the materials of the criminal case filed by the Georgian Prosecutor's Office about the rally dispersal, which has been unavailable to GYLA so far.
240 individuals, including 32 journalists and 80 law enforcers, were injured during a clash on Rustaveli Avenue on June 20 which was sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament.
As of now only three out of 22 individuals under GYLA’s protection are granted the status of victims, ‘even though the harm inflicted to these individuals resulting from the crime is confirmed based on video materials, medical documents, testimonies of witnesses available to the investigating authorities, GYLA says.
The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) has urged political parties not to implement amnesty for alleged violations committed by law enforcement during clashes in Tbilisi on June 20-21, 2019, after a clause for amnesty was included in the proposal by the European Council President designed to solve the political crisis of the recent months in Georgia.
A plea bargain has been signed with three individuals earlier today after they confessed to involvement in group violence during the June 2019 protests in Tbilisi.
The European Court of Human Rights has accepted applications prepared by the Human Rights Centre (HRC), asking the Prosecutor General’s Office to grant plaintiff status to journalists injured during the dispersal of June 20-21, 2019 protest demonstrations near the parliament of Georgia.
Three civilians who received injuries during the June 20 rally dispersal in central Tbilisi have been granted victim status, the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has reported.
Activists affected by the law enforcement's dispersal of the June 20, 2019 rally outside the Georgian parliament are set to gather at the location on Sunday to protest against a bill that provides amnesty to police used in the action.
Tbilisi City Court has obliged the Georgian Interior Ministry to pay victim of the June 20, 2019 Tbilisi protest Luka Petriashvili a total of 35,000 GEL, his lawyer Beka Basilaia has announced earlier today.