Report of Human Rights Watch focuses on Georgia's current challenges
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Thursday, January 16
Human Rights Watch published an annual review of human rights around the globe, World Report 2020.
The report about Georgia focuses on the lack of accountability for law enforcement abuses, labor rights, freedom of the media, drug policy and sexual orientation and gender identity.
According to the report, political tensions and ongoing unrest in Georgia over electoral reforms dominated 2019. In June, the government used excessive force to suppress a mostly nonviolent protest, arrest and injure hundreds, while not taking responsibility for these actions.
“On the night of June 20, riot police fired rubber bullets and used tear gas against thousands of protesters outside the parliament building in Tbilisi. The protest was sparked by the presence of a delegation from the Russian Duma in the parliament’s plenary chamber, as part of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy,” reads the report.
As the report reads, 36 workers died and 107 were injured in work-related accidents through October. Georgian labor law does not sufficiently regulate working hours, rest time, weekly breaks, and night work, and does not provide for government oversight of all labor conditions.
About freedom of media, the report says that the European Court of Human Rights’ July decision finding no breach of fair trial guarantees in the ownership dispute over Rustavi 2 shook Georgia’s media landscape.
The report also focuses on charges against Nika Gvaramia, former Director of Rustavi 2, and the founder of the Main Channel.
“Authorities also brought charges against Avtandil Tsereteli, father of the founder of TV Pirveli, another independent and critical broadcaster. The prosecutor’s office alleged that Tsereteli assisted former TBC Bank Board Chair Mamuka Khazaradze and his deputy in “legalization of illicit income” of US$ 17 million in 2008,” reads the report.
The report also focuses on activities that were planned for Tbilisi’s first-ever Pride Week, when the Interior Ministry issued a statement saying that the events could not be held outdoors, citing the risks to people involved in the events.
According to Mamuka Khazaradze, founder of political movement Lelo for Georgia, this report means that there is no justice in Georgia. As he says, the prosecutor’s office in Georgia works in accordance with the wishes of one person.
Georgian Dream MP Rati Ionatamishvili disapproves of the Human Rights Watch report and thinks that the organization's researchers should be 'more responsible.' He said such organisations, whose studies are 'vital' should not rely on "the views of only politically motivated NGOs."
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization, headquartered in New York City, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights.
Human Rights Watch investigates and reports on abuses happening in all corners of the world. Its representatives work in the field in 100 countries, uncovering facts that create an undeniable record of human rights abuses.
