Responding to news that five law enforcement officers in Georgia have been arrested and charged over attacks in 2024 on three people attending anti-government protests, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director, said:

“Accountability for the widespread abusive use of force by police against peaceful protesters, journalists and government critics during the crackdown on protests since 2024 cannot end with the recent arrest of five law enforcement officers, already 17 months late.

Amnesty International has documented dozens of cases of unlawful use of force and alleged torture and other ill-treatment, and severe injuries – including broken bones – inflicted on individuals who were simply exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Hundreds of protesters complained of such treatment. Justice means accountability for all these cases.”

“These five arrests alone do little to change the broader picture of impunity in Georgia, or the fact that dozens of cases of torture and other ill-treatment remain without effective investigation.

“The Prosecutor General’s investigation must extend to all those suspected of responsibility, including those who gave orders and who failed in their duty to prevent human rights violations. It is imperative that there is accountability across the entire chain of command, and for all reported cases of unlawful police conduct,” said Krivosheev.