24.04.2008 - Source: Civil Georgia

6 activists arrested on demonstration released after paying fine ("Activists Released after Paying Fine") [ID 23099]

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23.04.2008 - Source: Civil Georgia

Police arrest at least 5 activists for ‘public disorder’ ("Police Arrest Activists for ‘Public Disorder’") [ID 23098]

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31.01.2008 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Police used excessive force to attack demonstrators; according to official statistics over 550 protestors and 34 police were hospitalized with injuries ("World Report 2008") [ID 22285]

"

After several days of large-scale peaceful opposition protests in Tbilisi, the Georgian government initiated a violent crackdown on opposition protesters and instituted a nine-day state of emergency, saying that this was in response to a coup attempt. Riot police used excessive force to attack demonstrators, dispersing them with water cannons, large amounts of tear gas, and rubber bullets. Many policemen also beat individual protestors. According to official statistics over 550 protestors and 34 police were hospitalized with injuries. President Saakashvili announced snap presidential elections for January 2008, which helped diffuse the immediate political crisis. [...]

The truncated pre-election period, the restrictions on assembly and media imposed during the state of emergency, and the absence of one of Georgia’s key alternative media outlets all marred the pre-election campaign."

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29.10.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

2 men jailed for 20 days each and 5 fined for 28 October assault on opposition activists in Zugdidi; opposition alleges policemen were among attackers ("Two Jailed and Five Fined for Assaulting Opposition in Zugdidi") [ID 21479]

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29.10.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Zugdidi: Peaceful protesters attacked by well organised groups of young men; assault victims include opposition members and lawmakers; police is to investigate the incident ("Ombudsman Slams Authorities ‘Intolerance to Protest Rallies’") [ID 21480]

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28.10.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

A group of young men have assaulted Bezhan Gunava, an MP from opposition Conservative Party in town of Zugdidi ("Opposition MP Beaten in Zugdidi") [ID 21469]

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18.10.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

3 activists from the opposition group Equality Institute and one from the youth wing of the opposition Republican Party were jailed for 20 days on public disorder offences ("Four Activists Jailed") [ID 21399]

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06.10.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Eastern Georgia: Opposition leaders and supporters hold an anti-government protest rally, demanding parliamentary elections be held in April instead of late 2008 ("Opposition Launches Campaign in Provinces") [ID 21259]

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14.03.2007 - Source: International Federation for Human Rights

On June 29, 2006, several members of the Egalitarian Institute were arrested on the order of the Tbilisi Court of Appeal, while demonstrating outside the Court; they were sentenced by the Court of Appeal without a hearing to 30 days in administrative detention ("2006 Annual Report of the Observatory") [ID 19521]

"On June 29, 2006, Messrs. Irakli Kakabadze, Zurab Rtveliashvili, Lasha Chkhartishvili, Jaba Jishkariani and Davit Dalakishvili, members of the Egalitarian Institute, were arrested on the order of the Tbilisi Court of Appeal, while demonstrating outside the Court to call for the release of Messrs. Shalva Ramishvili and David Kokhreidze, co-founders and shareholders of the independent television channel TV 202. They had been sentenced to four and three years in prison respectively on March 29, 2006 in respect of charges of “extortion” which were most likely fabricated.  

The five members of the Institute were sentenced by the Court of Appeal without a hearing to 30 days in administrative detention, on the charge of “disorder in a Court” (Article 208 of the Code of Criminal Procedure). They were detained in the pre-trial detention centre of the Ministry of the Interior."

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02.2007 - Source: Human Rights Center

Rights to demonstration of Georgian people still violated in 2006 ("The Velvet Downfall; Human Rights Situation in Georgia in 2006") [ID 20419]

For documentation of individual cases please refer to the original document

"

 In our previous reports we had filled lots of cases of the dispersals of peaceful demonstration, and mostly by force. In 2006 Georgia does not really succeed in defending the first and basic classical rights within the democratic society. In this report HRIDC has compiled plenty of facts of violating the rights to demonstration of Georgian people."

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01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Five activists from the NGO “Equality Institute” detained by court guards during peaceful protesting; they were sentenced to 30 day’s administrative arrest ("World Report 2007") [ID 18516]

For documentation of individual cases please refer to the original document

"On June 29, five activists from the NGO Equality Institute peacefully protested the trial of two journalists by standing outside the Appeals Court in Tbilisi and making statements in support of the accused. Court guards detained the men and forced them into the court building, causing injuries to two of them. The five activists were charged with disrupting court proceedings and were immediately sentenced to 30 days’ administrative arrest. Ten days after his release, one of the activists, Lasha Chkhartishvili, was again arrested following a peaceful protest, allegedly for swearing at police, and sentenced to two days’ detention. Video footage of the incident did not reveal any violations by Chkhartishvili during the protest."

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29.06.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

4 members of non-governmental organisation Equality Institute arrested when holding protest rally outside building of Court of Appeals and calling through megaphone for unbiased consideration of case; they were sentenced to 30-day imprisonment for staging disorders in court ("Activists Jailed for Public Disorder") [ID 15556]

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06.2006 - Source: Human Rights Center

NGOs and media that covered protest of local NGO Lawyers Developing Center raided and injured by members of Nationalists Party of President Saakashvili ("Dispersal of demonstration in Kakheti, Georgia") [ID 15558]

"On June 15th, a protest arranged by the ‘Lawyers Development Center’ that should have been started in Anaga and ended in front of the Nationalists Office in Signagi, aimed at protesting terror upon the local self-government from the side of  Nugzar Abulashvili, the Head of the Nationalists Party in the Signagi region. [...] The participants of the protest should have gathered in front of the Abulashvili’s Office, where we planned to say our last word to the self-government that died as a result of terror… Intimidation upon the participants launched a few days before the protest. The people were threatened to be arrested. “Abulashvili said that all those who appear at the protest would be punished. He assured to have a green light from the president, thus, he threatened to arrest everybody”. It should be mentioned that Abulashvili often manipulates with the name of the president. [...] According to Roman Kevkhishvili, the journalist with ‘Tanamgzavri’ broadcasting company, the Signagi police officers in uniforms stopped him while entering the town. The journalist Gela Mtivlishvili, the coordinator at the Human Rights Information and Documentation Center neared him as well. “The conversation with the police officers - Besik Pkhovelishvili and Iago Kochlamazashvili lasted for 10 minutes. Gela demanded from the police officers an explanation why we were stopped; however, they failed to do it. Soon, we saw a bus and some cars overcrowded with people shouting: “You can do nothing with Abulashvili, we are Kiziks without Master” who directly attacked us. I cannot describe what happened there. We were abused verbally and beaten severely. The crowd assaulted us trying to take our equipments away. Then, they assailed Gela and broke his camera. We could not realize who was beating. We attempted to explain that we only wanted to cover the protest and if they and Abulashvili had something to say we were ready to write about their positions. However, they threatened us-”You will be punished if you say something bad about Abulashvili”, states Roman Kevkhishvili, who was badly injured in his chest and stomach. He also has beating prints on his face. Beating of the journalists continued for 40 minutes. The police officers were standing nearby looking at it. The journalists asked them for help, however, in vain. We addressed Temur Anjaparidze, the chief of the Police Department for several times as well, but unsuccessfully. It was too late when the police officers decided to assist us. The only help they provided us was to take the violators Ioseb Nanobashvili, the acting head of the Vakiri Administration who damaged our equipment and the resident of the same village Jemal Demetrashvili to the Nationalists Office instead of the Police Department to bring them under responsibility for their acts. The journalists being abused both physically and morally moved to the Signagi Police Department where we gave an investigator our testimony evidences and were announced to be victims of violation. Later, the Presidential Representative in the Kakheti Region -Petre Tsiskarishvili, Teimur Anjaparidze, the Chief of the Police Department, Tamaz  Tsabutashvili , the District Prosecutor, and the representatives the Prosecutors’ General Office, the Ombudsman, the Young Lawyers Association, the Human Right Information and Documentation Center and Nugzar Abulashvili appeared at the police department. MP Abulashvili denied his links with the raid, though; he could not prove his statement. Some of the citizens standing in front of the police department alleged that they were discouraged from joining the protest supporting the self-government by the name of Abulashvili. The law enforcers left their statements without any responses."

Document(s): Open document

01.2006 - Source: Human Rights Center

Protest actions have been dispersed by force for formalistic reasons; some of the participants of protest actions were harassed ("Next Stop – Belarus?; Human Rights Report 2005; Georgia") [#43007], [ID 4977]

For documentation of individual cases please refer to the original document

"The current government has used the tool of demonstrations effectively in the past to come to power, but once in position, it seems to be less eager to accept it and has come to regard it as a menace. Protest actions have not infrequently been dispersed by force for formalistic reasons. There have also been cases of outright harassment of people known to be involved in demonstrations. Such activities resemble a policy of spreading fear among the population. People are discouraged to speak out their grievances, which falters the growth of an active citizenry."

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07.07.2005 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Several protesters injured and 10 arrested when police used force to break up protest sparked by arrests of leading sportsmen ("Georgia Hit by Wave of Political Turmoil") [#33766], [ID 4564]

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02.07.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

8 people who were arrested during protest rally on Rustaveli Avenue on June 30, sentenced to an 8-day administrative detention ("Protesters Sentenced to Administrative Detention") [#42687], [ID 4566]

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02.07.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

8 people who were arrested during protest rally on Rustaveli Avenue on June 30, sentenced to an 8-day administrative detention ("Protesters Sentenced to Administrative Detention") [#42687], [ID 4979]

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01.07.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Several people detained and some wounded when police broke up protest against arrest of 2 judo athletes ("Georgia Protests Sparked By Arrest Of Athletes") [#33590], [ID 4568]

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01.07.2005 - Source: EurasiaNet

Tbilisi: Dozens of demonstrators arrested by riot police during protests sparked by court decision in which 3 people were sentenced to 3 months of pre-trial detention on blackmailing charges ("Tbilisi protest sparks political fisticuffs in Georgia") [#33486], [ID 4569]

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15.06.2005 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Freedom of association is generally respected; still, excessive use of police force to break up protests causes concern ("Georgia and the European Neighbourhood Policy") [#35208], [ID 4978]

"Freedom of Assembly
Although freedom of assembly is generally respected, incidents of police use of excessive force to break up protests have caused concern since the Rose Revolution. For example, in January 2004, police used batons to beat the participants of an unauthorized peaceful protest that blocked the road in Terjola district, in Imereti region. President Saakashvili later made statements justifying the police response. On July 1, police in Tbilisi used excessive force to break up a peaceful public protest of public transport workers, their families, and others who were demanding compensation for housing. At least two participants were hospitalized for their injuries from the police beating."

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19.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Anti-governmental demonstrations held in 2004 were in most cases dispersed by the police, frequently through excessive force ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2005 (Events of 2004)") [#32106], [ID 4980]

"On 11 January, police forcefully dispersed a demonstration in protest against the detention of Zaza Ambroladze of the Chiatura region. Demonstrators were severely beaten and some of the organizers were also harassed after the demonstration had ended. One of them was Zaal Adamia, who was beaten at his house and then taken to the police station unconscious.

On 28 January, special police forces violently dispersed the demonstration of street traders in Tbilisi. They protested the decision of the Tbilisi municipality to prohibit street trading from the 1st of February. Three people were injured.
On 9 June, the special police forces used excessive force when they dispersed a protest meeting against the construction of an oil pipeline in the village of Krtsanisi and arrested two demonstrators.

On 1 July, the Interior Ministry's special forces dispersed a hunger strike by victims of an earthquake after the protest had lasted three days in front of a municipal building in Tbilisi. The protesters, who requested additional public funds to provide them with relief and a meeting with the president, were all beaten with clubs. One of them was severely injured by the police and required hospitalization."

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15.03.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

Tbilisi: Several hundred potential students who were protesting against new rules of enrolment in university outside of Georgian Parliament builiding, dispersed by police; some of students were injured ("Police Break up Protest Rally Outside Parliament") [#43266], [ID 4981]

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Several peaceful demonstrations disperesd by the government and participants arrested for disrupting the peace ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29503], [ID 4982]

"The Constitution provides for freedom of assembly; however, both the Government and local authorities restricted this right in practice. The Government dispersed several peaceful demonstrations and arrested participants for disrupting the peace.

The law requires political parties and other organizations to give prior notice and obtain permission from local authorities to assemble on a public thoroughfare. Most permits for assemblies were granted without arbitrary restriction or discrimination; however, according to the law, the Government has the right to disperse any assembly that is "a disruption of the public order." No mechanism is designated to determine what constitutes a disruption of the public order. As a result, in contrast with previous years, the police often used this imprecision to justify violently dispersing several peaceful protests.

On January 11, protestors blocked the Tbilisi-Kutaisi highway to protest the detention of Zaza Ambroladze (see section 1.d.). Police violently dispersed the protest and pursued demonstrators into the forest, kicking them and beating them with clubs before apprehending them. Seven demonstrators were sentenced to 3 months pretrial detention for disrupting the public order. At year's end, these activists remained in detention and no trials had begun.

On July 1, riot police violently broke up a peaceful protest in front of Tbilisi City Hall, beating the 40 to 50 earthquake victims who were on a hunger strike due to the lack of funding for house reconstructions.

On September 2, 500 riot police violently dispersed a peaceful protest in the Batumi central market protesting the removal of the market to a new location. Riot police beat and kicked several participants, including M.P. Koba Davitashvili, then loaded participants into vans; 11 participants were charged and placed in 3 month pretrial detention for disrupting the public order. All 11 remained in detention awaiting trail at year's end.

The Constitution provides for freedom of association, and the Government generally respected this right in practice. Authorities granted permits for registration of associations without arbitrary restriction or discrimination."

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12.2004 - Source: Human Rights Center

After the Rose Revolution number of peaceful demonstrations were dispersed by special teams of police; allegedly several protesters were beaten by police ("One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Human Rights in Georgia after the “Rose Revolution”") [#27594], [ID 4983]

For a documentation of individual cases please refer to the original document

"Summary on right to assembly and manifestation:

According to International Norms everyone has a right to organize peaceful meetings and express himself freely. Paragraph 19 of the Georgian Constitution grants its citizens similar rights, but people are limited by the new government that has come into power after the velvet revolution and by the special teams of police equipped with weapons, that are subordinate to the government itself. The facts confirm that government has changed, but beatings remain the same.
Clubs are being hoisted against demonstrators, who are fighting for their freedom of the speech. Not long ago the president didn’t restrain from making acute statements about taking up arms against the prisoners in case of “need.” Similar appeals provoke law enforcement bodies against legal activities.
After the November revolution, people have held many protests with different demands, but these demonstrations, in contrast to the autumn’s occasion, were dispersed by special teams of police.
[...]
On January 28, street traders began a protest in Tbilisi against the decision of the government regarding the prohibition of street trading. The Mayor’s Office offered to move street traders to new markets, which were apparently unacceptable to them.
The demonstration was dispersed by a special group of police that was headed by Temur Mgebrishvili. Allegedly, he beat one of the women demonstrators. Three men were injured and needed medical care. Three more of the demonstrators were detained by the police.
Nobody has been made responsible for this incident either. The demonstration which was held in front of the State Chancellery with the same demands was also dispersed on January 31.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the complete list of peaceful demonstrations that have been dispersed in Georgia after “The Rose Revolution.” Police dispersed a number of peaceful demonstrations held with different demands."

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24.02.2004 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Report focused on religious intolerance, freedom of assembly and expression, torture in prisons and the situation of internally displaced, refugees and Meskhetian refugees ("Agenda for Reform: Human Rights Priorities after the Georgian Revolution") [#19671], [ID 4984]

"During the Shevardnadze period, the rights to freedom of assembly and expression were more or less respected. Public protests were permitted and occurred on a regular basis and, for the most part, the government did not interfere unduly with the media. There were sporadic attacks on independent journalists, and independent media outlets continued to face severe economic pressures. However, the media reflected a wide range of political viewpoints.21

Under the new government, there have been several worrying developments regarding freedom of assembly. In January, the police violently broke up several peaceful protests and no action has been taken against the police. On the contrary, high-level officials have reportedly justified the police response.22 In one case, seven men present23 at a peaceful protest in Terjola against the arrest of a man charged with illegal possession of firearms are now in custody, on remand for three months of pre-trial detention. They are charged with breaching public order by intentionally blocking a road. (See appendix for full details of this case). Commentators agree that this is the first time in many years that people have been imprisoned for attending a peaceful protest in Georgia, including many protests where protesters have blocked roads.24

The media continue to operate relatively freely. However there are concerns that the diversity of the media has been significantly reduced since most of the media formerly connected to the opposition now support the government, leaving very few outlets without a pro-government orientation. In early February two television stations, Rustavi 2 and Mze, simultaneously stopped broadcasting popular evening talk shows that discussed political issues. This has led to concerns that the government may be trying to control the media environment prior to the parliamentary elections at the end of March 2004.25"

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10.2003 - Source: Human Rights Center

President Shevardnadze says law of manifestations should be enforced as soon as possible ("Monthly Bulletin 10 (56), October 2003") [#17235], [ID 4985]

"President Shevardnadze said that the law of manifestations, which was adopted in 1997 by the Parliament of Georgia, should be enforced as soon as possible.
According to the law, the authorities should be notified about the holding of election cam-paigns and public meetings two days in advance.

“The elections should be held with full observance of laws and the constitution. We should respect the laws, which regulate the relationship between the authorities and the political parties during the elections in the country,” Shevardnadze said at a news briefing on 6 Sep-tember.

Opposition parties regard strict enforcement of this law as a means to restrain their election campaign."

Document(s): Open document

10.2003 - Source: Human Rights Center

Meetings of youth movement Kmara dispersed, participants beaten by police ("Monthly Bulletin 10 (56), October 2003") [#17235], [ID 4986]

"On 10 October 10 in Tbilisi, police prevented the youth movement Kmara (Enough) from demonstrating in front of the State Chancellery whilst the residentially-backed election bloc “For New Georgia” was holding a presentation of its election platform.

Protesters were beaten by police according to reports. In addition seven activists were ar-rested and detained for two hours without being charged before they were finally released.

On 11 October police dispersed another anti-governmental protest rally from Kmara in the western Georgian city of Poti.

Kmara activists were beaten by police, some individuals reportedly receiving severe and mul-tiple injuries.

The Kmara activists tried to protest against President Shevardnadze who was visiting Poti.

The Rustavi 2 TV channel reported that its crew was also attacked by the police. Law en-forcement officers seized a video camera along with a tape showing the police beating the students."

Document(s): Open document

04.03.2002 - Source: US Department of State

US State Department: Constitutional right to peaceful assembly without permission from the authorities restricted by national and local governments ("Annual report 2001") [#5795], [ID 4987]

"The Constitution provides for the right to peaceful assembly without permission from the authorities; however, both the national Government and local governments restricted this right in practice. The law requires political parties and other organizations to give prior notice and obtain permission from local authorities to assemble on a public thoroughfare. Members of the NGO community argued that the law violated the Constitution and have sought to have it overturned by the Constitutional Court; however, the Court has refused to hear the case, explaining that a test case must be brought before it to consider the challenge and an individual must prove that the law has harmed him. Most permits for assemblies are granted without arbitrary restriction or discrimination; however, this is not the case for Zviadists (supporters of former President Gamsakhurdia). Extreme Zviadists never have accepted any successor to the Gamsakhurdia government as legitimate and have held demonstrations demanding that the present Government resign. The Government viewed the public rallies of the Zviadists as a threat because of the publicity that they generate for themselves and against the Government. In May Zviadists held a demonstration demanding the present Government's resignation; fighting broke out between protesters and plainclothes police, and the police forcibly dispersed the demonstration. Several protesters and police were injured.

Private meetings and public gatherings of religious minority groups were repeatedly broken up, often with extreme violence, by Orthodox extremists with the tacit approval or active cooperation of law enforcement authorities (see Section 2.c.). The Government has not taken action against the perpetrators of such attacks.

In July and August, large public demonstrations occurred following the Sanaia killing (see Section 1.a.). Demonstrations also occurred outside Parliament during the November Government crisis and over electricity blackouts. All of these demonstrations were dispersed peacefully.

The Constitution provides for freedom of association, and the Government generally respected this right in practice. Authorities granted permits for registration of associations without arbitrary restriction or discrimination; however, in June 2000, the Tbilisi appellate court overturned the registration of two organizations affiliated with Jehovah's Witnesses on the grounds that there was no law regulating the registration of religious organizations (see Section 2.c.)."

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