OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Urges Georgia to Uphold Fundamental Freedoms Amid Ongoing Violence
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
In response to the ongoing protests and continued reports of violence in Georgia, the Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Questions, Lucie Potucková (Czech Republic), and the Committee's Rapporteur, Carina Ödebrink (Sweden), issued a statement reiterating their call for Georgian authorities to uphold the fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression.
The statement expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence against Georgian citizens who are exercising their fundamental rights. It called on the Georgian authorities to take immediate action to halt the persecution of civil society, media, and political opposition.
"We are deeply concerned about the current situation in view of reports of violence against Georgian citizens exercising their fundamental rights. We call on the Georgian authorities to take immediate action to end the persecution of civil society, media, and the political opposition," the statement said.
The leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's human rights committee expressed alarm over the continued use of disproportionate force against protesters, as well as the targeted violence against opposition voices and media representatives. They stressed that fundamental rights, including the freedom of peaceful assembly, association, and expression, must be upheld and protected in line with Georgia's Constitution and OSCE commitments.
The OSCE PA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the democratic aspirations of the Georgian people, as outlined in the Bucharest Declaration. The statement also condemned the excessive and indiscriminate use of force by law enforcement officials against protesters, calling it a serious breach of the right to peaceful assembly.
The Committee urged Georgian authorities to ensure that all law enforcement agencies respect these fundamental rights and called for a prompt and thorough investigation into any incidents of excessive force or misconduct, as previously urged by the Georgian Public Defender.
The statement also expressed support for the concerns raised by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights regarding the October parliamentary elections, the 'transparency of foreign influence' law, and the use of excessive force by police during protests.
Furthermore, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly leaders reiterated their support for the 13 December statement by the OSCE Troika - comprising Malta, North Macedonia, and Finland - urging Georgian authorities to make use of the tools and expertise available through the OSCE and its institutions.
The statement concluded by echoing the recent call from OSCE PA Special Representative on the South Caucasus, Luis Graça (Portugal), for all sides to engage in a constructive and open dialogue to address the ongoing crisis in Georgia.
