This year was a year of systemic repression, systematic violation of human rights and oppression. It was a shameful year for those who rule the country and try to make this country resemble a typical Russian totalitarian regime with all its features, - the fifth President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, stated at the briefing held today.

According to her, “the BBC journalistic investigation completes the picture of this terrible year.”

"Today is international Human Rights Day. 59 prisoners of conscience have been sent not only to 9 months of unjust pre-trial detention, but also to sentences ranging from 2 to 6 years. In addition to these prisoners of conscience, practically 80% of pro-European party leaders are in prison, to which are added those arrested after October 4. 1,200 civil servants have been dismissed from their jobs, mainly because they signed or posted on Facebook in support of European integration. 400 journalists have suffered violence during these demonstrations, where they came to do their job. 20 regional and online media outlets have been closed during this year. People are practically suffocated by fines. These fines are counted in thousands and tens of thousands of GEL. This year was a year of systemic repression, systematic violation of human rights and oppression. A year of violence, arrests, violation of human dignity, injustice. We still need to establish the facts about the poisoning, but this also completes the picture of this terrible year. This was a shameful year for those who rule the country and are trying to make this country resemble a typical, Russian, totalitarian regime with all its characteristics," Salome Zurabishvili said.