On June 12, 2015 Georgian police illegally created obstacles for the Human Rights House Tbilisi and its member organizations to hold peaceful demonstration in Heydar Aliyev Square in Tbilisi.
Monday, 29 June 2015
Demonstration participants under the slogan Sport for Human Rights protested launch of European Olympic Games in Azerbaijan. The games are organized in parallel to unprecedented persecution and arrest of human rights defenders and journalists in Azerbaijan for the past one year.
On June 12, having arrived at the Heydar Aliyev Square in Tbilisi, about 15 activists found it blocked by police officers and could not enter the territory. However, other citizens could easily move inside the square. The demonstration did not breach the Constitution of Georgia as well as the Law of Georgia on Assembly and Manifestation. They did not need special permits from relevant institutions due to its scope.
Despite many requests, police officers did not clarify the legal basis of prohibiting the activists to enter the square and organize a demonstration there. The only reason they mentioned was another event which was planned in the square but in fact it was not true. Thus, demonstration organizers were groundlessly prohibited to hold rally in the square. Finally, the police forced them to move across the street and hold rally on the pavement.
During the ongoing demonstration, some law enforcement officers in plain clothes tried to provoke peaceful demonstrators. After the demonstration was over, they followed the activists that breached their constitutional right to free movement.
Human Rights House Tbilisi and its member organizations are astonished with the violation of fundamental rights of assembly and freedom of expression.
We call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Government of Georgia and Parliament of Georgia to adequately respond to the facts and request
To immediately study the activities of the police officers participating in the incident to further identify their alleged offence or disciplinary violation; if it is confirmed, adequate measures shall be taken against them;
If it is estimated that police officers acted in accordance to the instructions of senior official, relevance of this action with the law must be studied and measures under law shall be taken against senior officials too;
To take preventive measures to combat future attempts of police officers to hinder free assembly and manifestation.
Human Rights House Tbilisi and its member organizations:
Article 42 of the Constitution;
Caucasian Center for Human Rights and Conflict Studies (Caucasia);
Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT);
Human Rights Center;
Media Institute;
Union Safari.
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