Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner Visits Georgia
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, visited Georgia from January 21 to 23. He expressed concerns about the country‘s human rights situation.
O’Flaherty was worried about the lack of accountability for police brutality during protests. He also criticized new laws that restrict freedom of assembly and expression. These laws include a ban on face coverings at protests and expanded grounds for administrative detention.
The Commissioner met with Georgian authorities to discuss these issues. He expressed concern about the treatment of journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, who is currently in pre-trial detention. O’Flaherty believed that her continued detention was unjustified.
O’Flaherty also criticized the country’s shrinking space for civil society. This includes legislation aimed at cracking down on foreign agents and stigmatizing laws against LGBTQ+ individuals. He urged the authorities to respect international human rights standards.
The Commissioner noted that the combination of these legislative measures and a lack of accountability for human rights violations has negated Georgia’s commitment to protecting human rights.
O’Flaherty called on Georgian authorities to be more careful when making reforms and to consider the impact of their laws. He also expressed his desire for an ongoing dialogue with the Georgian government to promote human rights protection in the country.
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