Public Defender’s Office visits protesters detained during Tbilisi rallies against bill on transparency of foreign influence

The body also said reports on alleged abuse and use of excessive force committed by police officers during detentions would be sent to the country’s Special Investigation Service. Photo: Public Defender’s Office

Agenda.ge, 03 May 2024 - 20:00, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Georgian Public Defender’s Office on Friday said its representatives had visited some of the individuals arrested on Thursday during protests in the country’s capital Tbilisi against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence.

The Office said its representatives visited 10 individuals in Dighomi and Avchala detention centres in the capital and attempted to locate others to meet with them and receive information on their “physical and detention conditions” throughout the night between Thursday and Friday.

Representatives of the Public Defender were trying to establish the location of persons detained at the rally, meeting them and personally getting information about their physical condition and detention conditions throughout the last night.https://t.co/Fn8ibsZgze pic.twitter.com/vUe8f1440U
— Ombudsman of Georgia (@Ombudsman_Geo) May 3, 2024

The body also said reports on alleged abuse and use of excessive force committed by police officers during detentions would be sent to the country’s Special Investigation Service.

The country’s Interior Ministry told local media 23 individuals had been arrested during the protests at Heroes' Square in Tbilisi.

The rallies come against the bill that calls for registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.