Protesters Face Abuse by Police, Says Public Defender
A public defender in Georgia says that most people who were arrested during a protest against the government’s decision to stop joining the European Union reported being treated unfairly by police.
Out of 156 people held by police, 124 (80%) said they were beaten or mistreated. The public defender, Levan Ioseliani, is calling on the authorities not to use excessive force and for an investigation into these cases.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs says that 225 activists were arrested between November 28 and December 2. Most are facing minor charges like being a troublemaker or disobeying police orders. However, courts have been dismissing claims of mistreatment by police.
The protests started on November 28 after the government announced it was stopping its EU membership bid. Demonstrations have continued since then.
Public Defender’s Office is trying to inform families about the whereabouts of their loved ones who were transferred to detention centers across the country.
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