HRH has received pictures from the 16 October post-election clashes between demonstrators and police at the so-called Freedom Square in the capital Baku. The pictures leave little doubt about the use of violence by both sides. Approximately 600 demonstrators were arrested. More than a hunded of those have yet to be released. Reports of torture of detainees have been confirmed by CoE and OSCE. To see the pictures, click the headline above. (1-DEC-03)
We, the undersigned members of the Network of Human Rights Houses and other international civil society organisations urge the government of Georgia to immediately end the ongoing repressions against independent voices. We condemn the use of illegal and disproportionate force against largely peaceful protestors, physical attacks against civil society representatives, alleged illegal detention of a well-known blogger, coordinated campaign of smear, harassment and intimidation against journalists, human rights defenders and their family members, including children.
Human Rights House Foundation joins a coalition of press freedom, journalists and human rights organizations led by The International Press Institute (IPI) in writing to Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, urging him to withdraw the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, guarantee the safety of journalists and uphold press freedom in Georgia.
As Georgian authorities look to introduce new “foreign agent” legislation, HRHF’s Kety Abashidze outlines the situation unfolding in the country and highlights the importance of international organisations, civil society and like-minded states to show solidarity with the Georgian public and civil society and to call on the authorities to abandon the law.