Georgian Health Minister defends police use of tear gas, pepper spray at protests

Mikheil Sarjveladze, Georgia’s Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health, and Social Protection, on Tuesday claimed the police had acted in “strict compliance with national and international laws” during recent protests against delayed EU integration, dismissing allegations, including from medical workers, that prohibited substances had been used to disperse demonstrators.

“The police acted in strict compliance with the law, legislation, international standards, and conventions, including the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg,” Sarjveladze said in response to allegations surrounding the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ use of tear gas and pepper spray.

He emphasized that such measures, including the natural effects of intoxication and lacrimation, were “legally permitted” when dealing with “illegal rallies”. “No one has presented evidence proving that non-standard or prohibited means were employed. Discussing this further is unnecessary, as these claims remain speculative,” Sarjveladze claimed.

Georgia’s domestic actors and international partners had condemned the use of “excessive force” and dispersal of “peaceful demonstrators” during ongoing protests sparked by the Government’s decision on November 28 to halt EU accession talks until 2028.