The Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to ensure the freedom of peaceful assembly of persons in the vicinity of the Government Administration. In addition, given the severity and special sensitivity of the issue, the Public Defender emphasizes the need for representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to conduct an active and meaningful dialogue with the parents participating in the protest, which, taking into account the weather and other factors, will be aimed at resolving the existing problem, - reads the statement of the Public Defender, which refers to the assembly held by parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy near the Government Administration of Georgia.

According to the Public Defender, freedom of assembly protects the right to choose the form of assembly, which gives its participants the opportunity to own temporary structures or items.

“The Public Defender of Georgia is actively monitoring the progress of the rallies held by parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in front of the Government Administration of Georgia, the participants of which are demanding the provision of their children with necessary medications. According to the information disseminated by the media and provided to the Public Defender’s Office, the participants in the rally are not allowed to place temporary structures and various attributes in the square in front of the Government Chancellery.

The Public Defender of Georgia emphasizes that freedom of assembly protects the right to choose the form of the assembly, which gives its participants the opportunity to possess temporary structures or items. At the same time, the State is obliged to facilitate the holding of peaceful assemblies and show tolerance towards the form of protest chosen by the participants in the assembly.

The Public Defender of Georgia has repeatedly responded to similar restrictions in the past and explained that the seizure of attributes is unjustified when their use does not block the entrances to the building, does not excessively harm the legitimate interests of other persons or public order. In the case under consideration, taking into account the meteorological conditions, the use of attributes is directly related to the possibility of exercising freedom of assembly and has a substantial impact on the exercise of the right.

Thus, the Public Defender of Georgia calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to ensure the freedom of peaceful assembly of persons in the vicinity of the Government Administration. In addition, given the severity and special sensitivity of the issue, the Public Defender emphasizes the need for representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia to conduct an active and meaningful dialogue with the parents participating in the protest, with the aim of resolving the existing problem, taking into account the weather and other factors”, reads the statement.