Ombudsman contradicts arrest of suspect’s father for setting up tent near parliament

Georgian public defender Levan Ioseliani on Friday said the setting up a tent near near the country’s parliament building, when it blocked no entrances or roads, was “within the expression of freedom”, in comments of an arrest of Beka Grigoriadis late on Thursday, the father of a suspect charged with assaulting police during the rallies against the foreign influence transparency bill in March.

Ioselinai added that taking away protest banners from citizens in front of the parliament building that day also contradicted the obligations of the law enforcement officers. 

“The Public Defender once again calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia not to impose unjustified restrictions on the freedom of assembly and expression”.

Grigoriadis was arrested when he tried to open the bag and take out the tent.

His son Lazare Grigoriadis was arrested in late March on charges of assaulting police and destroying properties during the rallies that demanded the ruling party withdraw the bill which they believed was a “Russian law”. 

The suspect faces up to 15 years in prison, with his legal team claiming there was no “direct evidence” pointing to his guilt. 

Domestic civil sector claims the country’s authorities are trying to punish Grigoriadis strictly to build fear in the youth and prevent their engagement in anti-government demonstrations. 

The ruling party was forced in April to shelve the bill due to protests.