Public Defender calls on Interior Ministry not to use “disproportionate” measures against peaceful gathering, urges protesters not to go beyond the legal framework
"It is important that law enforcement officers try to keep the damage to a minimum and proportionate. It should be noted that the use of the measures causing severe injuries is prohibited”, Ioseliani said in his statement. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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Newly appointed Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani, on Tuesday called on the Interior Ministry not to use coercive and “disproportionate” measures against the peaceful participants gathered currently in front of the Parliament building to protest the approval of the transparency bill by the legislative body earlier today, and urged the protesters not to go beyond the legal framework.
Assembly and demonstration is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the Constitution, which is one of the necessary prerequisites for the existence and development of a free and democratic society”, the Public Defender emphasised.
Ioseliani said the authorities should terminate the gathering “as a last resort” and the use of force “must meet the strict test of necessity and proportionality” [including the use of special batons, tear gas, acoustic means, rubber bullets, water cannons], only if the action would become “violent or illegal”.
It is important that law enforcement officers try to keep the damage to a minimum and proportionate. It should be noted that the use of the measures causing severe injuries is prohibited”, Ioseliani said in his statement.
He stressed it was “mandatory” to warn the participants of the rally in advance [before using any force] and give them a “reasonable” time to fulfil the legal requirements. “The type and intensity of coercive measures must be determined taking into account the specific situation, the nature of the offence, and the individual characteristics of the offender.
The Public Defender responded to the confrontation that had occurred between police and the participants of the rally [including the domestic opposition, members of the public, representatives of non-governmental organisations and students] a bit earlier before the statement. The protesters had attempted to block one of the entrances to the Parliament and as the Interior Ministry said, its officers would apply “all appropriate measures” and would use “proportional force” to ensure public order and security.
The Georgian Parliament on Tuesday approved the transparency bill at the first hearing that involves registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their income from abroad, local media said.
The Georgian Parliament on Tuesday continued discussions of the proposed bill that involves registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their income from abroad, local media said.
A public protest was launched on Monday outside the Parliament of Georgia in capital Tbilisi in a demonstration against the proposed bill on registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their income from abroad.
The bill on transparency of foreign influence, proposed by People's Power, a public movement composed of former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was supported at the first hearing by the Foreign Relations and Defence Committees later on Thursday amid confrontation at the joint session.
The Georgian police on Wednesday said it had arrested 66 people for “petty hooliganism”, disobedience to law enforcement and throwing “Molotov cocktails and stones” at officers during a protest outside the Parliament building in Tbilisi after the legislative body gave its initial backing to a proposed bill on transparency of foreign influence in its first reading.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday vowed the Georgian authorities’ support for the country’s European integration by saying the “march forward to Europe” would be facilitated “with Christianity”, “with sovereignty” and “with dignity”.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Tuesday said the proposed Georgian bill on the transparency of foreign influence, which passed the first reading at the country’s Parliament on Tuesday, was “incompatible” with European Union values and standards.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the Georgian authorities had showed “utmost respect” to the European institutions by forwarding the proposed domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence, which passed the first reading at the country’s Parliament on Tuesday, to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe for opinion.
The Georgian police detained ten more people for disobedience to law enforcement during a protest outside the Parliament building in Tbilisi after the legislative body gave its initial backing to a proposed bill on transparency of foreign influence in its first reading, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Saturday said the individuals protesting outside the Parliament building against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence - whether urged by opposition or not - had taken “completely unusual steps”.