Georgian Public Defender says alleged “ill-treatment” of citizens by police observed at protest against bill on transparency of foreign influence

Levan Ioseliani, the Public Defender of Georgia, on Monday said his Office was monitoring events that had developed during public protests against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence outside the Parliament on Monday, adding “unfortunately, we have again observed cases of alleged ill-treatment of citizens by the police”.

Ioseliani urged law enforcement to “act within the framework of legislation” and explained use of force “must be necessary and proportionate, aimed at carrying out a specific legal measure and in no case should it turn into targeted violence [or] retaliation against citizens”.

He also called on the Special Investigation Service to “respond immediately” to the facts of alleged violence against citizens and complete ongoing investigations “in the shortest possible timeframe”.

The Interior Ministry on Monday said organisers and participants of the rally had “publicly declared that they would not allow the Parliament members to attend and participate” in a session of the Legal Committee, scheduled early on Monday, that was set to review the third and final reading of the draft law, which 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. 

The body added law enforcement officers had “repeatedly called on organisers and participants of manifestation to clear the entrances” of the legislative body and allow Parliament members and staff to “enter the building and exercise their parliamentary powers”.

The statement also said that “despite numerous appeals made by the police to the organisers and participants of the rally not to exceed the limits defined by the law on assembly and manifestation, some of the demonstrators ignored the legal request of the police”. It claimed the individuals “violated public order, resisted and insulted law enforcement officers”, and added 20 of the alleged violators had been arrested.

The Ministry said three of the individuals arrested during the clash outside the Parliament early on Monday were citizens of foreign countries, naming one Russian and two United States nationals. It alleged one of the US citizens had “refused to reveal his identity” and requested to contact the United States Embassy in Georgia.

The body added the US Embassy, as well as the Swiss diplomatic office - which facilitates diplomatic services with Russia in the absence of direct ties between the countries since 2008 - had been informed about the arrests.