Activists detained for placing protest stickers under newly enacted law hurriedly passed in December

New police power granted for ‘preventative’ detainment over suspicion of plans to violate new rules

Human rights defender reportedly tortured last year arrested again in January and hospitalised

‘The laws… effectively criminalise even symbolic acts of protest, such as placing stickers on public property. These measures are being deliberately wielded to target peaceful protestors and stifle dissenting voices’ - Denis Krivosheev

New legislation that came into effect in Georgia on 30 December 2024 imposes further arbitrary restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. There has been the introduction of hefty fines for putting up protest slogans or posters and granting police the power to detain individuals “preventatively” on suspicion of planning to violate the rules governing public assembly or other laws for up to 48 hours.

Between 11 and 12 January more than 20 people, including activists, media workers and members of political opposition were arrested in Tbilisi and Batumi during protests held in solidarity with previously detained pro-European demonstrators.

Among the arrests activists, Tsiala Katamidze and Mate Tsentradze, were detained in Batumi under a newly enacted law that prohibits the placing of protest stickers on public buildings.

Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of the media companies Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested twice on 12 January. Mzia was initially detained for the administrative “offence” of posting a protest sticker and was later re-arrested as a criminal suspect with the charges against her yet to be disclosed.

Human rights defender, Gia Jvarsheishvili, who previously reported being tortured during detention in December was also re-arrested on 11 January and later hospitalised.

Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“The Georgian authorities use of newly enacted draconian legislation to suppress peaceful dissent marks a disturbing escalation in their crackdown on human rights. The laws, hurriedly passed in December, effectively criminalise even symbolic acts of protest, such as placing stickers on public property. These measures are being deliberately wielded to target peaceful protestors and stifle dissenting voices, including journalists, human rights defenders, and political activists.

“The Georgian authorities must urgently release all those detained for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into all allegations of unlawful and disproportionate use of force by police.”

‘The fun is going to start now’ – Severe injuries from police brutality

In December 2024, Amnesty verified numerous instances of torture and other ill-treatment, several of which also revealed the organised and systemic nature of these abuses, including coerced confessions and denial of timely medical care.

Gela Megrelidze, a photographer detained on 1 December told Amnesty:

“Everyone … [who was taken to] the police department was covered in blood. About seven or eight people were in a dire condition – one had a fractured arm and his face was so swollen he could not open his eyes … The police handed us pre-written protocols and told us things would get ‘complicated’ if we did not sign.”

Lazare Maglakelidze, detained on 2 December, sustained a broken nose, a concussion, and serious head injuries after allegedly being beaten by several police officers in detention. He told Amnesty:

“[police] have those vans that have been emptied out from inside and darkened and are used to torture protesters. Everybody, around 50-100 policemen participated, you could hear them shout ‘the fun is going to start now’ getting us to the van. Anyone who goes around feels free to attack you, hit you, denigrate you in any way they want.”

One particularly harrowing case is that of Davit Abuladze, a deaf protester who was arrested by police on 3 December. He was not apprehended at the mass demonstration itself but afterwards, while getting food and leaving the area some distance from where the protests had taken place. He was allegedly beaten on the street and in a police car before being detained for several hours without medical assistance or interpretation. Davit had to be hospitalised with severe injuries including head trauma and concussion.

Masked and armed individuals ostensibly affiliated with police

Since 4 December, the intimidation and violence against protesters has not only been carried out by law enforcement, but also by unidentified individuals, masked and armed with guns. These men ostensibly affiliated with the authorities have intimidated and attacked protesters and journalists with apparent police complicity in several instances.

Despite hundreds of reports of police brutality not a single law enforcement officer or member of an armed masked group has been identified or held accountable. Courts routinely prioritise police testimony over video evidence and witness accounts undermining fair trial rights and perpetuating state-sanctioned impunity.

Amnesty calls on the Georgian authorities to end the crackdown, ensure justice for victims and guarantee the right to peaceful protest. The international community must act in solidarity to ensure the government upholds its human rights commitments