Georgian Lawyers’ Association Files Complaint with ECHR Regarding Alleged 2024 Protests Torture
Tbilisi, Georgia – The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) concerning alleged systematic torture and ill-treatment of demonstrators during pro-European protest rallies in November and December 2024. The complaint, submitted on behalf of four individuals, seeks to assess both isolated incidents and a broader pattern of state actions. GYLA argues that the violence used against protesters was not a spontaneous response but a coordinated administrative practice intended to suppress demonstrations and violate democratic norms.
Evidence presented includes accounts from individuals hospitalized following the protests, detailing instances of brutal beatings, injuries, and arrests. According to GYLA’s investigation, law enforcement routinely conducted arbitrary detentions, often accompanied by physical abuse within specially equipped vehicles. This included the use of reinforced gloves, kicks, and in some cases, batons.
Alongside physical violence, detainees reportedly faced confiscation of personal belongings, insults, and threats, including threats of rape. The complaint highlights concerns regarding the investigation process, citing limited access to evidence, refusal of state agencies to provide CCTV footage, and a lack of accountability for those responsible. Senior officials were reportedly involved in encouraging the violence, despite international criticism.
The ECHR application focuses on alleged violations of several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including Article 3 (prohibition of torture and inhuman treatment) and Article 17 (prohibition of abuse of rights). GYLA asserts that the events represent a systemic pattern of abuse, demanding accountability and addressing shortcomings in the investigation. The case is supported by 24 OSCE states, triggering the activation of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, which calls for UN action on arbitrary detention, torture, and restrictions on expression and judicial independence in Georgia.
The complaint outlines four specific incidents reflecting this broader pattern.
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