Rachel Denber, the Deputy Director of Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch (HRW), has raised alarming concerns about Georgia’s ruling party, Georgian Dream. During a recent interview with VOA, she highlighted the severe implications of government actions, including the controversial foreign agent law and increased crackdown on protests, warning that these measures are paving the way for autocracy in the region.
Denber noted that Georgia’s parliament recently approved amendments that escalate penalties for protesters, extending administrative detention from 15 to 60 days. Reports suggest over 400 individuals may have been arrested during pro-European demonstrations late last year, with many alleging abuse by law enforcement, intensifying fears for human rights in the country.
For more than 70 days, widespread protests against the government’s policies and a halted EU accession process have spread across Georgia. These tensions stem from the October parliamentary elections that reportedly awarded Georgian Dream a sweeping 54% of the vote, which sparked a surge of dissent among citizens.
Denber criticized the indiscriminate and arbitrary nature of recent legislative measures, framing them as tactics to suppress dissent and public action. HRW documentation has recorded alarming instances of police violence against both demonstrators and political activists since early spring 2024. The systematic attacks, she claims, appeared premeditated and coordinated, raising questions about the involvement of higher authority.
In her discussion, Denber expressed disappointment over the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office’s lack of transparency regarding investigations into these incidents. She indicated that the government’s intentions seem geared towards extreme control over the NGO sector, which plays a critical role in serving the Georgian people.
The protests in spring 2024 mobilized hundreds of thousands against a backdrop of tear gas and physical confrontations. Denber noted the violence perpetrated by riot police was not only unwarranted but also indicative of the government’s strategy to quell opposition, insinuating a calculated effort to escalate tensions before enacting stricter suppression measures.
Denber’s comments about Mzia Amaghlobeli, the founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, thrust the severity of government tactics into the spotlight. Her detention on charges of attacking a police officer stands in stark contrast to unaddressed police violence against many others, revealing a stark imbalance in law enforcement priorities.
Amaghlobeli, arrested on January 11, faces grave charges that could land her in prison for up to seven years. Since January 14, she has bravely entered a hunger strike, drawing attention to the plight of civil liberties in Georgia as the state increasingly narrows the space for dissent.
HRW’s Rachel Denber condemns the Georgian Dream party for exacerbating a human rights crisis, pointing to increased penalties for protests, widespread detentions, and police brutality against demonstrators. Recent legislative changes signal a disturbing trend toward autocracy, as protests against the government continue. The arrest of journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli further illustrates the state’s attempts to suppress dissent amid rising tensions over civil liberties.
In summary, Human Rights Watch’s Rachel Denber has raised serious alarms concerning the Georgian government’s trajectory towards autocracy, particularly following the enactment of stricter laws and the violent suppression of protests. The ongoing crackdown on dissent, highlighted by the detention of activists and increased penalties for protests, signals a troubling trend for human rights in Georgia. The government’s targeted actions against NGOs and recent events surrounding journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli underscore a wider attempt to stifle opposition and create a climate of fear among citizens. Such developments warrant close scrutiny from both local and international observers as the situation evolves.
Original Source: oc-media.org
