Georgian Watchdog Alleges Crimes Against Humanity Amid Protests
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) has issued a damning statement accusing state authorities of committing crimes against humanity during recent protests sparked by Georgia's U-turn on EU accession. The statement, released on December 4, highlights widespread and systemic violence against civilians, including protesters, journalists, and marginalized groups, since November 28.
According to GYLA, the protests began after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the government's retreat from its EU integration path. The watchdog alleges that coordinated repressive actions, including the unlawful dispersal of peaceful demonstrators, have taken place daily. These measures, they claim, exceed the scope of standard police enforcement and constitute organized crime.
GYLA described patterns of violence where Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) units surrounded protesters, blocked escape routes, and indiscriminately attacked individuals. Among the victims are women, minors, and persons with disabilities, who have reportedly faced severe physical abuse and deliberate violence.
Members of the media, including international journalists, have been subjected to violence, the statement alleges. GYLA also highlighted arbitrary arrests and targeted persecution of individuals involved in the protests. "Special punitive units" were accused of systematically intimidating civilians, while investigative authorities allegedly failed to act against these abuses.
The watchdog asserts that state institutions are directly complicit in these actions. They cite the following:
- The MIA's refusal to identify police officers involved in violence, despite video evidence.
- The Special Investigation Service's failure to identify or prosecute perpetrators.
- Court rulings imposing administrative sanctions on protesters without examining individual circumstances, effectively punishing victims.
GYLA further accused government officials of encouraging punitive actions by security forces, fostering anti-Western propaganda, and demonizing protesters.
The organization argues that the scale and systematic nature of these violations meet the threshold for crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Statute. They cited acts of torture, persecution on political and discriminatory grounds, and other inhumane acts causing significant suffering.
GYLA calls for international attention to address these allegations. They warned that the current trajectory not only undermines human rights but could deepen Georgia's international isolation.
