Former Public Defender says crimes committed during 2019 protests in Tbilisi remain uninvestigated

Nino Lomjaria, the former Public Defender of Georgia and founder of the public platform European Orbit of Georgia, on Thursday criticised the Georgian Dream authorities for failing to investigate crimes committed during the 2019 June mass protests in Tbilisi. 

Speaking for the press, Lomjaria stressed “no high-ranking person has been held accountable”. 

Lomjaria’s comments are in relation to the June 2019 protests in Tbilisi, which were sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament. The protests were met with a forceful response from the Georgian Dream authorities, who used various means, including rubber bullets, to disperse the crowds. This response left dozens injured, with several demonstrators losing their eyesight.According to Lomjaria, “it is well-known who is responsible for the events of June 19-20, yet the investigation remains stalled”. 

“It is as if no one knows who gave the order, and it is impossible to understand. Of course, everyone knows everything, and I think we should start talking about who gave the order, because the Special Forces do not initiate the use of force on their own,” she said.