Human Rights Center Meets with Public Defender, Sozar Subari

During the conversation the Human Rights Center had with Georgian Public Defender, Sozar Subari, he expressed his concern over the current developments in Georgia. According to Subari the Georgian authorities used excessive force to disperse the demonstration of the opposition taking place in front of the parliament in Tbilisi. The use of force was an abuse of power to end the peaceful protest; especially the Special Forces Unit used excessive force against the population. The Public Defender himself fell victim to excessive force as well; he was intentionally beaten while trying to protect a citizen from being physically abused. In addition, he was called an agent of Badri Patarkatsishvili.

Subari strongly condemns the force used and states the government acted unlawfully. In addition to the force used by authorities in Tbilisi, the Public Defender referred to the physical abuse of students in Batumi, including a five months pregnant woman whose unborn child is still in danger. It is worth to mention that the students were planning a demonstration, but had canceled the protest in response to the events in Tbilisi.

He also stated that taking Imedi TV of the air, as well as destroying their equipment and physically assaulting reporters, was illegal.

Lastly, the Public Defender expressed his concern over the level of democracy in Georgia and what kind of effect the current developments will have for the future of the country. He called upon the international community as a whole to strongly condemn the recent developments.

Wieteke Daniels