Public Defender Condemns the Incident at the National Library

Public Defender of Georgia condemns the fact of violence occurred on the nearby territory of the National Library and addresses the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia with the recommendation to undertake objective and effective measures in order to investigate the aforesaid fact.

In particular, on February 8, 2013 presentation of annual report of President of Georgia was planned in the Tbilisi National Library. This was followed by the assembly of hundreds of people who were protesting the expected appearance of the President of Georgia. Part of them demanded the entrance into the building in order to have the possibility to ask the President questions. The representatives of Public Defender of Georgia were also sent there in order to monitor the further development of the assembly. On the basis of monitoring and disseminated information, participants of the assembly occupied the territory in front of the building as well as the steps and the main entrance of the building. Approximately at 18:00 members of the parliamentary minority and Tbilisi Mayor arrived at the building. Aforesaid was followed by physical violence, which is also confirmed by the disseminated video material.

In spite of the fact, that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia had precise information on the number, demands and attitude of participants of the assembly in front of the Public Library, Public Defender of Georgia considers that number of law enforcement representatives and undertaken preventive measures were not sufficient in order to ensure the safety of arrived individuals in the Library.

The arrival of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia on the spot and his statement relating to the commencement of investigation should be considered as a positive step.

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