Amnesty International - The scale of illegal use of force, torture, and other ill-treatment by the police in Georgia indicates that they are acting under government-approved directives and are emboldened by impunity, according to Amnesty International’s report.

Mass protests began in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on November 29, with thousands of people protesting in front of the parliament and on several central streets. Protests spread across the country as well. In response, the police used water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, leading to escalation. As a result of the violence and clashes, many people were injured, and video footage captured the brutal beating of peaceful protesters and journalists. The police pursued demonstrators outside the protest areas, conducting searches in their homes and offices and making arrests. At this time, over 460 people have been detained, including 430 facing administrative charges and 30 facing criminal charges.

Amnesty International reports that according to widespread information, more than 300 protesters, or the majority of detainees, have been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment by police special forces – with many cases amounting to torture. More than 80 people were hospitalized with severe injuries, including broken facial bones and head injuries.

“The scale of illegal use of force, torture, and other ill-treatment by the police indicates that they are acting under government-approved directives and are emboldened by impunity. Courts largely ignore growing evidence of torture and violations of the right to a fair trial. More than 160 people have been fined and sentenced to administrative detention. The police and the entire criminal justice system seem to be used to intimidate, persecute, and suppress peaceful dissent, reflecting institutionalized repression,” the report states.

Amnesty International urges the Georgian government to protect and ensure the rights of all individuals in the country.

“Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the escalation of protests in Georgia and calls on the Georgian government to protect and ensure the rights of all individuals in the country, including the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We also urge the international community to show solidarity with those peacefully exercising their rights in Georgia,” the document states.

Amnesty International calls on the Georgian authorities to end the violence.

“End the violence: Immediately stop the violence by the police and unknown groups acting in collaboration with the police. Protect and ensure respect for human rights: Support and ensure the respect for the rights of all individuals in the country, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right to association. Investigate the unlawful use of force: Conduct a swift, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigation into allegations of the unlawful use of force, including the misuse of tear gas, water cannons, and batons. Investigate torture and other ill-treatment: Conduct a swift, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent, and effective investigation into allegations of torture and other ill-treatment. Ensure accountability: Those responsible for violations must be held accountable in a fair trial, ending impunity. Ensure compliance: Ensure that the police adhere to international standards on the use of force and investigate incidents of violence independently, impartially, transparently, and effectively, holding perpetrators accountable in a court of law. Free peaceful protesters: Ensure that peaceful protesters are released. Fair trial: Ensure that those accused of internationally recognized crimes are given a fair trial and due process. Transparency: Ensure public hearings of complaints related to the unnecessary and excessive use of force during protests to ensure accountability and effective remedies for victims. Protect and implement Georgia's international human rights obligations: Ensure the protection of the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Articles 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Georgia is a party to both human rights treaties,” the document states.

Amnesty International explains that the report documents the study and analysis of human rights violations based on testimonies of injured protesters and journalists, analysis of information, interviews with Georgian human rights defenders, and video and photo materials from the protests.

“The analysis indicates systematic, state-sanctioned violations of human rights aimed at suppressing protests and accompanied by a cycle of injustice at every stage,” the report concludes.