Council of Europe commissioner urges Georgia’s prosecutor general to investigate use of force against protesters

CoE commissioner writes to Georgia’s prosecutor

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O’Flaherty has sent a letter to Georgia’s Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze. He said he was concerned about the lack of tangible progress in investigations into alleged cases of disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officers against protesters and journalists in late 2024.

How special forces beat protesters in Tbilisi: stories from those hospitalized

We share the stories and images of people who were brutally beaten, injured, and arrested at pro-European protests in Tbilisi

The letter refers to findings by Georgia’s public defender. They support numerous claims of ill-treatment of protesters. These include reports of torture and alleged threats of sexual violence against women.

Michael O’Flaherty raises concerns about the effectiveness of investigations launched by Georgia’s Special Investigative Service and later transferred to the prosecutor’s office. He notes that criminal cases are being opened against protesters and convictions handed down. At the same time, no one has yet been held accountable for alleged violence by police officers.

O’Flaherty also says the use of chemical agents to disperse protests must be thoroughly investigated. He argues this raises serious questions about the legality, necessity and proportionality of the use of force. This is especially important given official confirmation that certain chemical substances were added to water cannons during the protests.

Amnesty International on Georgia: "Systematic, state-sanctioned human rights violations"

“Over 300 protesters, the majority of those arrested, were subjected to violence and torture by law enforcement”

The commissioner calls for an immediate, thorough, independent and effective investigation. He urges that anyone responsible for human rights violations against protesters be held to account and requests updated information on the measures taken.

Amnesty International: probe “kamit” use in Georgia, impose police equipment embargo on the country

The organization criticizes the “hostile activity” charges brought against experts, witnesses, and human rights defenders who acted as BBC respondents

Background

On 18 December 2024, Georgian non-governmental organisations discussed what they described as systematic torture and inhuman treatment by law enforcement officers against participants in pro-European protests.

According to expert assessments, between 28 November and 5 December 2024 the interior ministry used chemical substances added to water cannons to disperse peaceful demonstrations, as well as pepper spray, tear gas and other crowd-control agents.

On 1 December 2025, the BBC published a report claiming that, based on evidence it had gathered, the Georgian authorities used chemical weapons dating back to the First World War to break up the protests.

“This is not 'кamit'” – Georgian security services officially refute BBC claims of chemical poisoning of protesters

SSG: “Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, which is not a banned substance, was added to the water cannons. All BBC respondents deny saying anything about the use of the poisonous substance ‘kamit'”

CoE commissioner writes to Georgia’s prosecutor