The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has called on the Georgian authorities to ensure the accountability of the country’s law enforcement agencies, repeal restrictive laws on “foreign influence,” and continue supporting the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
This statement was released by the office of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights following O’Flaherty’s visit to Georgia on April 14–15.
It is noted that the Commissioner’s visit to Georgia focused on the lack of accountability of state agents for the violent dispersal of protest actions in 2024 and early 2025, the growing restrictions on freedom of expression, the rights to peaceful assembly and association, as well as the human rights of internally displaced persons from the occupied territories of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.
«The Commissioner thanks the Georgian authorities for their cooperation. He also welcomes the resilience of civil society, human rights defenders, and journalists who continue to work in an increasingly restrictive environment,» the statement reads.
It is emphasized that during his visit to Georgia, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights discussed issues of accountability and law enforcement. During these meetings, O’Flaherty reiterated his call for an independent and comprehensive investigation into the use of water cannons containing chemical agents against demonstrators.
«He drew attention to the 2020 UN Human Rights Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons in Law Enforcement and urged the authorities to ensure these guidelines are taken into account by law enforcement officers,» the Council of Europe stated.
The statement also addresses the restriction of democratic freedoms — freedom of expression, and the rights to peaceful assembly and association. The Council of Europe Commissioner noted the cumulative effect of these laws, emphasizing that the authorities have adopted measures that impose further restrictions.
He cited the new amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations, which require prior notification to the police if a demonstration is held in a location where there is traffic or pedestrian movement.
«Furthermore, the police are granted the authority to change the location or time of a demonstration if it hinders the free movement of traffic and people.
Amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses extend the 60-day administrative detention period, introduced in February 2025, to other offenses, such as wearing a mask or blocking a road.
New changes to the Criminal Code provide for up to two years of imprisonment for repeated administrative offenses related to protest actions.
The Commissioner expresses concern that these changes significantly restrict the right to peaceful assembly and are incompatible with the principles of necessity and proportionality enshrined in the Convention,» the office of Commissioner Michael O’Flaherty stated.
