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Persons responsible for violent actions of July 5-6 are still unpunished: Statement by HRC
05.07.2022
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July 5, 2022
HRC is responding to the violent actions of July 5-6, 2021, and calls on the authorities to ensure prompt, objective, and impartial investigation, identifying and imposing liabilities on all alleged organizers and implementers of violent actions.
A year has passed since the events of July 5-6, 2021, when during a rally against the Dignity March, ultra-right, violent and aggressive groups deliberately attacked media representatives and civil activists, inflicting physical injuries of various gravities and insulting verbally; intentionally smashing the equipment of media representatives so to interfere with the journalistic activities.
On July 5, 2021, while carrying out professional duties, Lekso Lashkarava, a cameraman of TV Pirveli, became a victim of brutal violence dying at his home on the night of July 11, 2021.
Unfortunately, the authorities did not do anything on July 5, 2021, to stop the violent groups even though everyone was aware of the risks of their aggression and violence. No adequate number of law enforcement officers was deployed, while the measures taken by those present at the scene were insufficient to stop the violence. The authorities not only failed to take appropriate measures to protect public safety, health and life, but, on the contrary, encouraged violence. In particular, instead of imposing the responsibility for a possible conflict on the counter-protesters, the Prime Minister, Irakli Gharibashvili, said on July 5 that holding the Dignity March was unreasonable and called on the organizers of the Dignity March not to march on Rustaveli Avenue.
As for the second day, the 6th of July, considering the actions of violent groups gathered in parallel with the Silent Rally held in front of the Parliament of Georgia, the number of law enforcers present on the spot, especially within a few hours of the beginning of rallies and after that, was still insufficient. Therefore, on several occasions, the counter-protesters managed to break through the cordons of the police officers, penetrate the mass, and inflict bodily injuries on the protesters. The law enforcers were trying to react to the violent facts as they managed on several occasions to remove and/or detain the persons who had broken through the cordon. Nevertheless, due to the insufficient number of police officers and the aggression of the counter-protesters, it became increasingly impossible for the protesters to stay in the protest area.
Although an investigation on separate episodes of July 5-6 was launched and also some legal consequences were delivered, still, until now no organizers of the violence were identified and no liability was imposed upon them.
Stemming from the above, HRC calls on:
The Georgian authorities:
● To facilitate the identification of the organizers of the acts of violence and attacks on the media representatives committed on July 5-6, which were the actions, planned in advance and well-organized as well as to identify the organizations or individuals funding the radical forces;
● To facilitate the identification of the possible involvement of hostile foreign state authorities and special services in the violent acts, and to react appropriately to the facts in relevant legal and political terms.
● To increase the transparency and efficiency of the proceedings, to set up a multi-faction commission under the auspices of the Parliament, and to enhance the cooperation with the relevant agencies of the partner states to conduct the investigation effectively.
The investigative bodies:
● To ensure thorough and objective conduct of the investigation process to identify all persons involved in the violent events of July 5-6 and identify the organizers of the actions and prosecute them legally in an appropriate manner;
● To ensure a thorough and effective assessment of the actions of high-ranking officials and low-ranking police officers of the Ministry of Interior of Georgia during the July 5-6 violent actions, in terms of deploying the police forces, managing rallies, and taking necessary measures to prevent the violence.
Human Rights Center
HRC is responding to the violent actions of July 5-6, 2021, and calls on the authorities to ensure prompt, objective, and impartial investigation, identifying and imposing liabilities on all alleged organizers and implementers of violent actions.
A year has passed since the events of July 5-6, 2021, when during a rally against the Dignity March, ultra-right, violent and aggressive groups deliberately attacked media representatives and civil activists, inflicting physical injuries of various gravities and insulting verbally; intentionally smashing the equipment of media representatives so to interfere with the journalistic activities.
On July 5, 2021, while carrying out professional duties, Lekso Lashkarava, a cameraman of TV Pirveli, became a victim of brutal violence dying at his home on the night of July 11, 2021.
Unfortunately, the authorities did not do anything on July 5, 2021, to stop the violent groups even though everyone was aware of the risks of their aggression and violence. No adequate number of law enforcement officers was deployed, while the measures taken by those present at the scene were insufficient to stop the violence. The authorities not only failed to take appropriate measures to protect public safety, health and life, but, on the contrary, encouraged violence. In particular, instead of imposing the responsibility for a possible conflict on the counter-protesters, the Prime Minister, Irakli Gharibashvili, said on July 5 that holding the Dignity March was unreasonable and called on the organizers of the Dignity March not to march on Rustaveli Avenue.
As for the second day, the 6th of July, considering the actions of violent groups gathered in parallel with the Silent Rally held in front of the Parliament of Georgia, the number of law enforcers present on the spot, especially within a few hours of the beginning of rallies and after that, was still insufficient. Therefore, on several occasions, the counter-protesters managed to break through the cordons of the police officers, penetrate the mass, and inflict bodily injuries on the protesters. The law enforcers were trying to react to the violent facts as they managed on several occasions to remove and/or detain the persons who had broken through the cordon. Nevertheless, due to the insufficient number of police officers and the aggression of the counter-protesters, it became increasingly impossible for the protesters to stay in the protest area.
Although an investigation on separate episodes of July 5-6 was launched and also some legal consequences were delivered, still, until now no organizers of the violence were identified and no liability was imposed upon them.
Stemming from the above, HRC calls on:
The Georgian authorities:
● To facilitate the identification of the organizers of the acts of violence and attacks on the media representatives committed on July 5-6, which were the actions, planned in advance and well-organized as well as to identify the organizations or individuals funding the radical forces;
● To facilitate the identification of the possible involvement of hostile foreign state authorities and special services in the violent acts, and to react appropriately to the facts in relevant legal and political terms.
● To increase the transparency and efficiency of the proceedings, to set up a multi-faction commission under the auspices of the Parliament, and to enhance the cooperation with the relevant agencies of the partner states to conduct the investigation effectively.
The investigative bodies:
● To ensure thorough and objective conduct of the investigation process to identify all persons involved in the violent events of July 5-6 and identify the organizers of the actions and prosecute them legally in an appropriate manner;
● To ensure a thorough and effective assessment of the actions of high-ranking officials and low-ranking police officers of the Ministry of Interior of Georgia during the July 5-6 violent actions, in terms of deploying the police forces, managing rallies, and taking necessary measures to prevent the violence.
Human Rights Center
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