The Public Defender of Georgia has unveiled its 2024 Report on Human Rights and Freedoms, revealing alarming systemic violations, especially during the protests in May and November-December 2024. It underscores significant challenges in safeguarding human rights in the country, characterising the spring and winter of 2024 as particularly oppressive due to rampant abuses.
The annual document catalogues severe abuse instances tied to protests, curbed political rights, election infringements, and persistent issues in law enforcement and the penitentiary landscape. The Public Defender notes that excessive police violence marred the protests, with law enforcement employing undue force against citizens and targeting activists and journalists.
Between April 15, 2024, and March 1, 2025, the Public Defender’s office encountered 624 individuals impacted during demonstrations, revealing that 57.7% faced inhumane treatment. Alarmingly, the proportion of abuse reported by those detained surged to 60% in the latter protest period. Despite substantial evidence, law enforcement has not faced accountability for these abuses, exacerbated by a lack of preventative measures.
Furthermore, the report criticises police strategies that dispel entire crowds rather than addressing specific violent behaviour, violating peaceful assembly rights. Legal frameworks continue to breed arbitrary interference with civil liberties, notably through a flawed Code of Administrative Offenses that hampers freedom of assembly.
As for the 2024 parliamentary elections, the report uncovers over 200 violations criticised by the OSCE/ODIHR, including violence, police misconduct, and voter intimidation. Overall, these elections suffered from numerous conflicts leading to a compromised democratic process.
Media freedom also saw a decline, worsened by restrictive legislation and threats toward journalists. Incidents of police aggression against reporters during protests were documented, stressing the inadequate regulatory environment that undermines journalistic integrity and access to information.
Georgia’s justice system displayed enduring flaws, marked by overcrowded facilities and inadequate healthcare, with solitary confinement often deemed abusive. The Public Defender’s report criticises the slow progress in reforming parole processes, leading to inequitable access to legal rights.
The systemic mistreatment of protesters during both spring and winter demonstrations is alarming, characterised by torture and degrading treatment. Lack of accountability for police officers is rampant, with investigations focusing disproportionately on lower-level violators while major abuses go unpunished.
The report also shadows the plight of human rights in Georgian territories occupied by Russia, highlighting ongoing violations, illegal detentions, and educational restrictions faced by the ethnic Georgian population. The Ombudsman calls for enhanced efforts to safeguard the rights of internally displaced individuals, framing their 2024 report as a call for accountability and systematic reform.
The Public Defender of Georgia’s 2024 Human Rights Report unveils severe abuses, particularly during protests in 2024, including police violence, suppressed political rights, and flawed electoral processes. Notably, it highlights systemic failures in law enforcement accountability and persistent issues within the penitentiary system. Furthermore, media freedom has deteriorated amid restrictive laws and hostility towards journalists, while ongoing human rights violations in occupied territories remain unaddressed. The report underscores a critical need for reform and protection of civil rights.
The 2024 Human Rights Report by the Public Defender of Georgia reveals a troubling landscape of human rights violations, marked by police violence during protests, diminished civil liberties, and electoral misconduct. Critical systemic flaws within the justice and penitentiary systems remain largely unaddressed, while media freedom faces aggressive erosion. Notably, the ongoing human rights abuses in occupied territories highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reform and stronger protections for vulnerable populations. Ultimately, this report serves as a crucial reminder of the continuing challenges faced in the safeguarding of fundamental freedoms and rights in Georgia.
Original Source: civil.ge
