Human Rights Watch Reports Inaction by Georgian Authorities on Violence Against Activists
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that Georgian authorities have not effectively investigated a series of violent attacks against civic and political activists in recent months. According to HRW, this lack of action could contribute to further political violence and instability as the country approaches its parliamentary elections in October 2024.
HRW's report details that from late April through June 2024, more than a dozen activists were violently attacked by unidentified assailants. These incidents, which often took place in public areas with witnesses and CCTV cameras present, resulted in injuries that required hospitalization. Despite the seriousness of these attacks, HRW notes that Georgian police have not identified or arrested any suspects, raising concerns about the adequacy of the investigations.
The report highlights that many of the activists targeted had spoken out against the "foreign agent" law, introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party in April 2024. This controversial law, which was vetoed by President Salome Zourabichvili but later passed by the ruling party on May 28, 2024, requires NGOs and media outlets receiving over 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as "organizations serving the interest of a foreign power."
HRW documented six specific cases in Tbilisi involving various individuals, including a university student, a professor, the founder of a youth protest group, a protest participant, and a leading opposition party member. Despite formal police investigations being opened in most cases, HRW reports that the authorities have not made significant progress, and victims have not been asked to assist in identifying suspects.
The report also states that Georgian human rights groups and media have documented more than a dozen additional cases of physical attacks on activists since mid-April. HRW expresses concern that the investigations into these attacks appear to be similarly slow and ineffective.
HRW is urging the Georgian government to conduct thorough and effective investigations to bring those responsible to justice and to prevent further violence, especially as the parliamentary elections draw near. The organization emphasizes that holding perpetrators accountable is crucial to maintaining stability and protecting democratic freedoms in Georgia.
According to HRW, the prosecutor's office acknowledged that the Interior Ministry is investigating the attacks but noted that no criminal prosecutions have been initiated so far. HRW continues to monitor the situation and calls on Georgian authorities to publicly and unequivocally condemn politically motivated violence.
