The authorities are using new forms of police terror against citizens participating in protest demonstrations - their illegal detention, forced transportation of citizens for questioning and restriction of the right of representation to lawyers is a gross violation of the Constitution and legislation of Georgia, which should be stopped immediately, - some non-governmental organizations note this in a joint statement.

As they explain, their citizens are constantly "reporting that the police are violating procedural laws and citizens' rights" on the hotline.

"In recent days, the government has been using new forms of police terror against citizens participating in protest demonstrations. On the hotline of non-governmental organizations, we are constantly informed that the police encroach on procedural legislation and the rights of citizens.

In particular, the policemen go to the address of the citizens participating in the action, tell them or their family members that they want to surrender to the agency and ask to enter the apartment, and then forcibly, against the will of the citizens and without explaining the reason, take them to the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Their interrogation is also conducted under compulsion. Lawyers are not given the opportunity to meet and represent citizens. Lawyers have tried several times to access the deportees over the past few days, but to no avail.

The Code of Criminal Procedure clearly indicates that the party conducting the interview is obliged to explain to the person being interviewed from the beginning that the interview is voluntary and that he also has the right to use the services of a lawyer. Testimony is mandatory only when summoned before a magistrate judge, which makes the above actions of the police illegal.

Thus, the illegal arrest of citizens by the police, forced transportation for questioning, forced questioning and restriction of the right of representation to lawyers are a gross violation of the Constitution and legislation of Georgia, which should be stopped immediately," the statement said.

The statement is signed by the following organizations: "Association of Young Lawyers of Georgia"; "Civil Society Foundation"; "Transparency International - Georgia"; "Supporting group of women's initiatives"; "Rights Georgia"; "Democracy Research Institute"; "Democratic Initiative of Georgia"; "Union of Human Rights Defenders - Human Rights Center"; "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy"; "Partnership for Human Rights"; "Center for Social Justice".