**Women Detained at Protests Subjected to Inhumane Treatment**
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Georgia are speaking out against the use of inhumane treatment against people detained at protests, including women. According to a joint statement issued by Transparency International – Georgia and the European Orbit of Georgia, female detainees have been subjected to complete stripping and forced squatting.
**Degrading Treatment Used as a Tool for Repression**
The statement highlights that degrading and humiliating treatment is being used as a tool for political repression, persecution, intimidation, and suppression. The stories of female victims, including Elene Khoshtaria, who was detained during a protest in front of the Georgian Parliament on March 28, indicate that this practice is widespread.
**Female Detainees Forced to Strip Naked**
According to Elene Khoshtaria’s statement, she was subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment while in detention. Female police officers handcuffed her hands behind her back and then several police officers forcibly stripped her completely naked. This practice is contrary to Georgian legislation and international standards.
**Journalists Put Pressure on Victim**
Journalists from state-run media outlets Rustavi 2 and Imedi tried to get Elene Khoshtaria to agree to the publication of footage of the violence committed against her, which would have inflicted secondary trauma on the female victim. This is just one example of the intimidation tactics used by authorities.
**Government Denies Existence of Practice**
Despite statements from human rights organizations and the Ombudsman, the government has denied the existence of full body searches for years. However, NGOs are now speaking out against this practice, which they say is widespread and contrary to international standards.
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