The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed his deep concern on Monday after the violence which punctuated the demonstrations in recent days in Georgia, denouncing a “disproportionate use of force” against the protesters .
“The unnecessary or disproportionate use of force against protesters and media employees is extremely worrying,” Türk said in a statement.
“All Georgians across the political spectrum should be able to express their views on the future of their country freely and peacefully,” he added.
Thousands of pro-European demonstrators demonstrated again on Monday in Tbilisi, for the fifth consecutive evening, to denounce the government’s decision to suspend talks for the integration of Georgia into the European Union until 2028.
Mr. Türk’s statement refers to reports that dozens of demonstrators and media workers were injured during the demonstrations, as security forces used pepper bombs, water cannons and chemical irritants.
According to international human rights standards, the use of force by security forces “must remain an exception and comply with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, precaution and non-discrimination,” he said. -he emphasized.
Mr. Türk noted that, according to the Georgian authorities, at least 224 people were arrested during four days of demonstrations.
“Reports that children are among those arrested are particularly worrying,” he said.
Mr Türk calls for the “immediate and unconditional” release of any person “arrested for the legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly”.
At the same time, he called on demonstrators to exercise these rights in a peaceful manner, citing reports that some protesters threw stones, fireworks and bottles at law enforcement, and caused violence. damage to the Parliament building.
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