Georgia’s Public Defender reports no criminal charges against law enforcement for mistreatment of protesters during 2024 anti-government demonstrations. A recent report by the Public Defender’s Office, covering the year 2025, detailed numerous concerns including the treatment of demonstrators, restrictive legislation enacted by the Georgian Dream party, instances of femicide, poverty, and issues surrounding social protection, labor rights, and the impact of conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The report specifically highlighted that police officers involved in harming protesters faced no legal action, even when their identities were revealed.
Investigations into numerous other rights violations remained unresolved, failing to identify or hold accountable specific individuals, particularly concerning alleged abuses against media members. The year 2024 was marked by significant unrest, beginning with protests against the “Russian law” – the controversial foreign agents legislation – followed by post-election rallies and demonstrations against Georgia’s paused EU candidacy. Many protesters and journalists, especially during winter 2024, documented instances of police violence, encompassing beatings, humiliation, threats, and the seizure of personal belongings.
Detainees consistently reported systemic police brutality, noting a pattern of mistreatment. The Public Defender’s Office, through OC Media, documented that of 131 individuals detained during protests between March 2025 and February 2026, 35 (26.7%) reported experiencing ill-treatment, with 17 sustaining injuries. These reports detailed physical violence, degrading treatment, verbal abuse, overly tight restraints, and prolonged handcuffing behind the backs.
Accounts also described disturbing practices within temporary detention facilities, including complete strip searches and forced exercises. The public defender noted that detainees faced limited access to showers, with a lack of differentiated care for women. Furthermore, the office emphasized that legislation regulating assembly was tightened in 2025, with the police recording 8,200 administrative offenses related to protests between November 2024 and October 2025, often resulting in detention for minor infractions.
The Public Defender challenged specific legislation before the Constitutional Court. This ongoing situation reflects concerns about the rule of law and civil liberties within Georgia.
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