On the 9th night of the legitimate protest, the crackdown on the demonstration entered a new stage of police terror. The use of violent methods by the Ministry of Internal Affairs continued throughout the night: physical assault, threats and swearing at peaceful protest participants, violent illegal detention, interference in journalistic activities, as well as the involvement of groups of individuals against the protest participants, - this is stated in the information released by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association.

According to them, the Georgian Young Lawyers Association monitors human rights violations on a daily basis and believes that systematic and violent repressions against the civilian population should be assessed as crimes against humanity, which may serve as a basis for an appeal to the International Criminal Court.

“On December 6, police officers again illegally searched people at the Freedom Square metro station. The police claimed to be conducting a cursory search. Media footage clearly shows how the police are violating the law and clearly going beyond the scope of a cursory search. It is also worth noting that even a cursory search should be based on the grounds specified by law. This indicates that the police are massively executing an illegal order to intimidate the demonstrators. Several people were arrested during the illegal search.

Despite the fact that the demonstration on December 6-7 was peaceful, the Ministry of Internal Affairs began a full-scale crackdown on the demonstration without any reason (from 00:33). Special forces occupied the area in front of the Parliament (by 00:40). At this time, the police forces were also groundlessly and violently detaining the participants of the demonstration.

It is worth noting that, after the start of the crackdown in front of the parliament, special forces were also deployed on Republic Square, which unjustifiably detained people leaving the rally to the Rustaveli metro station.

Throughout the night, information about 51 detainees was received by the hotline of civil society organizations.

The methods - searching people exiting the metro, ambushing peaceful people leaving the rally - were aimed at intimidating citizens and creating obstacles for them to reach the place of peaceful assembly.

Also, there was again an illegal and disproportionate use of active special means. In particular, tear gas and water cannons were used, as well as pepper spray.

By 00:45, after police forces had secured other exits from the area surrounding the Opera House, the protesters moved from Rustaveli Avenue to Tarkhnishvili Street towards the seafront, where they were confronted by unknown individuals armed with firearms.

The faces of the attackers are clearly visible in the footage, so they can be easily identified, however, the events that have developed in recent days, as well as the use of such criminal practices in April-May 2024, convince us that state institutions are acting in alliance with physical groups.

The so-called “Titushki raids” that intimidate protesters began in Georgia during the protests against the “Russian law,” when unknown individuals met with protest participants, organizers, and their family members near their homes or on the street, where they were severely beaten, which also did not result in any response from law enforcement agencies. On December 6, such individuals also attacked “Publica” journalist Mindia Gabadze,” the information said.