**Council of Europe Calls for Investigation into Treatment of Protesters**
The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner, Michael O’Flaherty, has called on the government in Georgia to investigate claims of police brutality against protesters.
In a report, Commissioner O’Flaherty said that despite reports of improper treatment of demonstrators and journalists, no police officer has been held accountable for their actions. He also expressed concern about the lack of identification among law enforcement officers, which makes it difficult to hold them responsible.
**Police Must Identify Themselves**
Commissioner O’Flaherty recommended that police officers wear identifying badges or marks, so that they can be easily identified and held accountable for any wrongdoing.
He also called on the Georgian authorities to investigate cases of improper treatment of protesters and journalists. The commissioner expressed concern about reports of violence against demonstrators, including some who are facing criminal charges.
**Freedom of Assembly Concerns**
The Commissioner criticized changes made to the law on freedom of assembly, saying that they impose excessive restrictions on protesters and expand the powers of law enforcement agencies. He also noted that the new laws introduce harsher fines for administrative offenses related to protests.
Commissioner O’Flaherty said that many of these amendments are incompatible with international human rights standards and recommended that the government amends them accordingly.
**Journalists Face Harassment**
The Commissioner expressed concern about reports of interference with journalists’ activities, including the case of journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, who was visited by him in prison. He stated that her pretrial detention was unjustified and reflects the growing difficulty faced by independent journalists in Georgia.
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