Regarding political repressions and persecution
taking place in Georgia

Since April 9, 2009 mass protest actions with the demand of early, free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections, have been taking place in Georgia. In June, 2009 Georgian authorities have intensified political chasing and repressions, which include fierce dispersal of the protest actions, depriving journalists and media representatives of video and photo cameras, detaining opposition party activists with feigned criminal allegations, etc.

Since the very beginning of active protest actions until today the authorities have detained more than 30 opposition activists by criminal prosecution and about 80 citizens (12 of them are still imprisoned) by administrative case. Almost all opposition activists, who are arrested by criminal prosecution, are accused of identical crimes: illegal possession of gun or drug abuse/keeping.

During last few years about 400 persons have been detained in Georgia on political grounds, with guns and drugs being present in 380 cases.

Whereas:

• On June 15, absolutely peaceful and legal youth rally was attacked in front of police headquarters and more than 80 youngsters were brutally beaten by police;

• During dispersal of the same action, one of the leaders of the Alliance for Georgia Zurab Abashidze was severely beaten and hospitalized with heavy damages;

• During dispersal of the same action, journalists, representatives of foreign media companies and news agencies among them, were physically attacked and deprived of video and photo cameras. Later Ministry of Interior Affairs has returned the cameras with all data erased;

• Citizens, who have taken part in peaceful protest actions, manifestations and picketing, are persecuted every day, especially in the regions, where it’s easier to follow citizens’ political activities. Not only political party activists, but also their family members are subjected to chasing and intimidation.

We would like to state the following:

Mikheil Saakashvili’s authorities have started new wave of political terror, which develops on the background of statements about dialogue and cooperation and deepens existing political crises in the country.

Discourse about democracy and political repressions became a leitmotif of Saakashvili’s governance. The situation is approaching a dangerous mark, when it becomes impossible to protect members of the opposition political parties by legal measures. This can result in physical disappearance of a real political opposition and its replacement by artificially created “pocket” opposition that will be a fatal strike to country’s democratic development.

We call upon International Community, all friend countries of Georgia, international organisations and like-minded political parties to take more effective steps for upholding democracy in Georgia and urge Georgia’s authorities to stop the wave of political terror. All persons arrested by political reason and feigned criminal allegations must be released immediately!

Attached is a list of the activists of the Alliance for Georgia and youth movements - “Why?” and “7th November”, who are still detained by the authorities.

Alliance for Georgia
June 19, 2009