European Commission condemns “excessive force” in Georgia protests

The European Commission has issued condemnation of the “excessive use of force” by Georgian law enforcement during ongoing protests in Tbilisi against the controversial foreign transparency bill. 

Peter Stano, the spokesperson for the European Commission’s External Action Service, articulated the Commission’s stance, denouncing the violence perpetrated against protesters by the police and urging for a thorough investigation into these incidents.

Stano emphasized the widespread desire among a significant portion of the Georgian population for a European future and path, calling upon the government and authorities to honor this aspiration. He decried the recent governmental response to the protests, highlighting instances of intimidation, threats, and physical abuse directed towards demonstrators, civil society members, politicians, journalists, and media workers.

“We strongly denounce such actions,” Stano asserted, labeling them as brutal acts that deserved unequivocal condemnation. He urged the Georgian government to uphold the fundamental right to protest and emphasized the necessity of investigating all instances of misconduct and violence, with perpetrators facing legal consequences.

He noted the European Union, along with its member states, was closely monitoring developments in Georgia, with some members expressing their views on the situation with clarity and resolution. 

 

While the decision regarding sanctions ultimately rested with the member states and required consensus, Stano underscored the importance of Georgia’s continued commitment to the European path.Meanwhile, tensions escalated on the ground as police arrested 20 individuals during a rally near the Georgian Parliament on Monday. The Ministry of Internal Affairs cited reasons ranging from petty hooliganism to disobedience to police orders for the arrests.In a related development, Michael Roth, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, currently visiting Tbilisi, warned that the adoption of the controversial bill could jeopardize negotiations for Georgia’s accession. 

The third and final reading of the bill is slated by the end of this week.