PACE monitors raise alarm over arrests, police brutality in Georgia

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) monitoring rapporteurs for Georgia, Claude Kern (France, ALDE) and Edite Estrela (Portugal, SOC), have voiced serious concerns about the recent arrests of opposition and protest leaders, as well as police raids on their offices. These actions, reportedly based on dubious legal grounds under Georgia’s controversial code of administrative offences, have prompted questions about politically motivated justice.

“Violence and excessive force by the police during arrests raise serious doubts about the impartiality of the judicial process, which has no place in a democratic society governed by the rule of law,” the rapporteurs stated.

They also condemned the ongoing police brutality against journalists and peaceful protesters, including youth, a situation confirmed by Georgia’s Public Defender. “There seems to be a sense of impunity for police violence and excessive use of force, which is unacceptable,” Kern and Estrela emphasized, urging authorities to uphold freedom of expression and assembly as per Georgia’s commitments to the Council of Europe.

The rapporteurs called for thorough and transparent investigations into all reported instances of violence and police misconduct, stressing that those responsible must face legal accountability.

Their statement comes ahead of a planned fact-finding mission to Tbilisi in early January, where they intend to assess the situation on the ground.