Arrested Georgian civil society members must immediately be released

Civil Rights Defenders condemn the detention of Georgian civil society members Eduard Marikashvili, Chairman of Georgian Democracy Initiative; Saba Brachveli, an employee of Open Society Foundation; and activist Nika Romanadze and call on Georgian authorities for their immediate release.

On June 2, 2023, human rights defenders were protesting in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia. Despite their peaceful demonstration, the Chairperson of Georgian Democracy Initiative, Eduard Marikashvili, was arrested along with other human rights defenders and taken to the police facility. Eduard Marikashvili was holding a blank white paper, while others had posters.

It is alarming for the democratic development of Georgia when civil society members get detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression. Freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are essential rights for democratic societies.

Tags ,

Related

Brutal crackdowns on democracy activists continue in Georgia

The protests in Georgia have been going on ever since the heavily critisised elections 26 October. And the response from the regime is harsh. Civil Rights Defenders’ programme officer, Moreta Bobokhid...

Protesters met with force in Georgia following suspension of talks on European Union accession

Shortly after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution rejecting the results of Georgia’s 26 October parliamentary elections, alleging “significant irregularities”, the Georgian govern...
Georgian flag

New Bill in Georgia Violates LGBTI+ Rights

On September 17, the Georgian Parliament passed a controversial “Family Values” bill, which directly targets the rights and freedoms of the LGBTI+ community in the country. Approved by 84 ...