Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, sent a letter to Georgia’s Prosecutor General, Giorgi Gvarakidze, expressing concern over the lack of tangible progress in investigating alleged cases of disproportionate use of force against protesters and journalists by law enforcement at the end of 2024, the Council of Europe reports.

The Commissioner expressed concern regarding the effectiveness of investigations initiated by the Special Investigation Service and transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office. The letter notes that while criminal cases against protesters proceeded and resulted in convictions, no one has been held accountable for alleged acts of violence committed by the police.

The letter refers to conclusions by the Public Defender of Georgia, which confirm numerous allegations of mistreatment of protesters, including reports of torture and alleged threats of sexual violence against female protesters.

The Commissioner emphasizes that the use of water cannons containing chemical irritants must be thoroughly examined, as it raises serious questions about the legality, necessity, and proportionality of the use of force—“particularly considering the official acknowledgment that chemical substances were mixed into the water cannons during protests.”

“I consider that the issue of the use of water cannons containing chemical irritants should be addressed as part of the investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office into the use of force by law enforcement against protesters in November and December 2024, as it raises important questions regarding legality, necessity, and proportionality,” the letter states.

The Commissioner calls for a prompt, thorough, independent, and effective investigation, demands accountability for any human rights violations committed against protesters, and requests updated information on the measures taken.