Detentions of women at protests in Georgia: violence, abuse, threats of rape and murder

Women targeted by Georgian police

Representatives of the non-governmental organizations Transparency International and European Orbit of Georgia spoke about the mistreatment of women detained during pro-European protests in Georgia. According to TI representatives, their hotlines received reports of 10 women being detained over the past month, although the exact number of detainees or victims remains unknown.

Human rights activists: police violence against protesters in Georgia is a crime

“The state’s measures to suppress lawful protests have reached a new level of brutality.”

• According to the women, special forces officers used physical violence during their detention and threatened them with rape and murder.;
• To make the threat of rape more explicit, the officers described the supposed actions in detail. They also threatened to take the women to a special vehicle, making their threats even more intimidating;
• One detained woman publicly stated that while being transported from the protest site, she was not allowed to sit in the vehicle and was forced to kneel the entire way while being subjected to sexual harassment;
• Another woman reported publicly that at the police station, she was filmed and humiliated with sexual remarks;
• A protester with visible bruises on her face stated that the police took her as a distraction during the protest dispersal, after which she was beaten.

Human Rights Watch: Police actions against protesters were punitive

“The EU must impose sanctions on those responsible for violence against protesters.”

NGOs are sharing essential information for those who may face detention:

• Personal searches must be conducted by someone of the same gender, and only individuals of the same gender as the detainee may be present during the search.
• If video surveillance is in use, detainees must be informed beforehand;
• Full undressing is not required during a personal search;
• The examination of specific body parts (e.g., to check for injuries) must take place out of view of surveillance cameras.

Guidelines for transferring women to detention facilities:

• Women must be housed separately from men;
• Pregnant women must be accommodated separately from other detainees;
• Women must be provided with necessary hygiene products.

Additionally, anyone placed in a temporary detention facility has the right to contact their lawyer, call the Ombudsman’s hotline (1481) or the Special Investigative Service hotline (199).

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

“State representatives are not permitted to carry out or demand actions that demean or insult your dignity or discriminate against you on sexual or any other grounds. Torture, inhumane, or degrading treatment is prohibited by the Constitution of Georgia and international law and is subject to criminal liability.

If any of the above has happened to you, report it to your lawyer, who will contact the relevant authorities. If you do not have a lawyer, you can reach out to local non-governmental organizations. We will assist you while ensuring complete confidentiality,” NGOs urge citizens.