Parents of children suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are appealing a Tbilisi City Court decision to the Court of Appeals after the lower court dismissed their application. The legal challenge seeks to suspend a Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) order prohibiting them from setting up tents in an open public square.
“For 19 days, parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have been holding a continuous protest in front of the State Chancellery building, demanding funding for life-prolonging treatment. The Ministry of Internal Affairs refused permission to set up tents in the open square, arguing that it would disrupt the operations of an enterprise, institution, or organization.
Notably, the nearest building is 70 meters away from the protest site. Consequently, it is unclear which enterprise or organization’s activities could be disrupted. We challenged these directives in court and requested their suspension. We argued that the prolonged exposure of people, including women and children, to the elements in poor weather conditions could pose a threat to their life and health.
The court of first instance denied the application, reasoning that we failed to demonstrate the specific harm caused by the absence of tents.
This decision by the MIA and the court is illegal, unfounded, and contradicts both the Constitution of Georgia and international law. We are appealing these rulings to the Court of Appeals. We call on the public to support us and help save our children’s lives,” the statement reads.
Parents of children with Duchenne dystrophy ask the Patriarchate to mediate with the authorities
