Public Defender is Deeply Concerned over the Oppression of Opposition Supporters

The Public Defender’s office shifts to an extraordinary regime. Hence, participants of the demonstration or any person whose rights are endangered during the demonstration can call to the Ombudsman’s hot line: 99 58 98, this line will be open 24 hours a day.

According to the Public Defender’s information, the demonstrators in Tbilisi got in touch with them and stated that people were physically and verbally assaulted during the demonstration.

They also added that, three days ago, late at night, the leader of the Youth Branch of the Labour Party, Rati Maisuradze, was chased by ten unknown masked people. They commenced fire against Maisuradze and beat him with fists and clubs. Maisuradze said that incident occurred 15 metres away from patrol police cars, but the patrol police officers did not respond to the incident.

According to the Ombudsman’s information, on the same day at 2:00 a.m., Koba Chitanava, the chairman of the board of Sokhumi University, was physically assaulted near “Rustaveli” metro station. According to Chitanava there were uniformed people among the aggressors.

Other demonstrators also got in touch with the Public Defender, who stated that several unidentified people assaulted and insulted them while getting back from the demonstration.

Sozar Subari, the Georgian Public Defender, recommends the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Prosecutor’s Office to launch an investigation into these events. “It is surprising that opposition supporters are harassed and that all personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are presumably not preventing this crime, “- stated Subari.

Source: Media News