The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has published a memorandum calling on the Georgian authorities to make progress on holding law enforcement officers accountable for the disproportionate use of force against protesters, and to review legislation affecting freedom of assembly, association, and expression.
The document notes that the recommendations presented by the Commissioner in March 2025 remain relevant. O’Flaherty reiterated the need for effective and independent investigations into cases of alleged ill-treatment and excessive use of force by law enforcement officers, as well as holding the perpetrators accountable and ensuring compensation for victims.
Key recommendations include introducing mandatory individual identification numbers for law enforcement officers, ensuring independent investigations into cases of violence against protesters and journalists, and expanding investigations into potential violations during protest actions that took place between 2023 and 2025.
Special attention in the memorandum is paid to the use of riot control equipment during the dispersal of protests. The Commissioner called for a transparent investigation into the use of water cannons with chemical additives against demonstrators and for bringing the practice of using less-lethal weapons into line with international UN standards.
Furthermore, O’Flaherty recommended that the Georgian authorities review or repeal a number of legislative amendments adopted in recent years. In his view, amendments to the law on assemblies and manifestations, as well as changes to administrative and criminal legislation, must be brought into compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and international standards for the protection of civil liberties.
The document also calls for an end to audits and criminal prosecutions of civil society organizations linked to the application of the GEOFARA law (Georgian Foreign Agents Registration Act) and grant legislation. The Commissioner recommends repealing the relevant regulations and restoring non-governmental organizations’ access to bank accounts in cases where it has been restricted.
The document separately emphasizes the need to implement judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in cases related to violations of the right to peaceful assembly and instances of ill-treatment by state representatives.
The memorandum “On Law Enforcement Accountability and Freedom of Assembly, Association, and Expression in Georgia” was prepared following the visit of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights to Georgia in April 2026. The document contains an assessment of the current human rights situation and a series of recommendations to the Georgian authorities.