Georgia: Authorities must immediately investigate attacks on government critics

Responding to a violent attack by unidentified men on a civil activist in Georgia, just hours after he was accused in a social media post by the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament of participating in an “organised and politically motivated campaign of terror”, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“After dozens of similar incidents of violence, the attack on Zuka Berdzenishvili, just hours after he was personally described as a threat to the government by the Speaker of Parliament, raises serious concerns. Such actions by government officials can easily be interpreted as a green light for unpunished violence against government critics.”

After dozens of similar violent incidents, the attack on Zuka Berdzenishvili, just hours after he was personally described by the Speaker of Parliament as a threat to the government, raises serious concerns

Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

“We are deeply concerned by the Georgian government’s false claim that the criticism it faces is a violent plot against the establishment. Its increasing crackdown on dissent is not a form of defense but an attack on human rights and a violation of Georgia’s international human rights obligations. Criticism of the authorities, however harsh, is protected speech, and all public officials have a duty to endure a high level of criticism and scrutiny.

“The Georgian authorities must break the cycle of violence, promptly investigate all acts of violence and ensure that the perpetrators, whoever they are, are brought to justice in a fair trial.”

background

On the morning of 11 June, civil activist Zuka Berdzenishvili was attacked by three unidentified assailants near his home in Tbilisi, sustaining head injuries. This happened just hours after Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili published a post on social media calling Berdzenishvili one of the “outraged citizens” taking part in an “organised and politically motivated terror campaign” against members of the ruling Georgian Dream party. According to Papuashvili, Berdzenishvili had made threatening phone calls to members of parliament. Amnesty International is currently unable to independently verify these claims.

In recent weeks, numerous opposition activists have been attacked in Georgia following the government’s rapid approval of the controversial “foreign influence” law, which has been widely criticized as an attack on freedom of association. Amid mass protests, reports of intimidation, arbitrary arrests and violence against protesters and perceived government critics have increased. Notable incidents include suspicious figures near the residence of opposition leader Zurab Japaridze on 10 June after he had brutally attacked his brother; the attack on student Niko Managadze in broad daylight on 7 June; and the arrest of activist Ioseb Babaevi on 4 June on seemingly unfounded charges of possession of weapons. At least two people have reportedly been arrested for publicly confronting and criticizing MPs; one of them is on trial for hooliganism.