Georgia's public ombudsman accused police on Tuesday of inflicting torture on people arrested during six days of big street protests against the government's decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.
Levan Ioseliani, whose role is to defend citizens' rights, said he and his officials had met people subjected to "the harshest treatment" by police.
"In most cases, they have received serious injuries in the face, eye and head area, which practically excludes even the possibility that the police used the necessary, proportional force against them every time," he said in a statement.
"The location, character, and degree of the injuries create a credible impression that the police use violent methods against citizens in order to punish them. Intentional, severe violence for the purpose of punishment constitutes an act of torture."
Reuters requested comment from the government and the ruling Georgian Dream party but none was immediately available.
The United States has previously condemned the use of "excessive force" against protesters. But Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has repeatedly praised the police for their response, saying they have shown greater professionalism than their counterparts in Europe and the U.S.
The country of 3.7 million people has been gripped by crisis since last Thursday, when Georgian Dream announced it was halting the EU talks and renouncing any funding from the bloc until 2028.
Georgia has been one of the former Soviet Union's most pro-Western successor states, but critics accuse the government of abandoning that course and steering it closer towards Russia. The crisis is being closely watched in Moscow, Brussels and Washington.
Demonstrators gathered on Tuesday evening for a sixth successive night of protests, with no end in sight to the standoff.
In a setback for critics of the government, Georgia's constitutional court on Tuesday declined to hear a lawsuit seeking to annul the results of an Oct. 26 parliamentary election. It was officially won by Georgian Dream with almost 54% of the vote but the opposition says it was tainted by fraud.
Prime minister Kobakhidze accused the demonstrators of trying to organise a repeat of the 2014 "Maidan" revolution that ousted a pro-Russian president in Ukraine, but said it was "already over". He said the organisers had tried to grab power and would be brought to justice.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU critic of the ruling party who backs the protests, told Reuters this week that there was no attempted revolution, and the protests' sole demand was to re-run the election.
The crisis follows months of tensions and a souring of Georgia's relations with the West as the ruling party has pushed through laws that critics say are draconian and Russian-inspired. The government says they are necessary to defend the country's sovereignty.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over the worsening security, humanitarian, and human rights situation in the Russia-occupied regions, along with the ongoing illegal militarization.
Canada’s Liberal Party is set to elect a new leader on March 9, moving beyond Justin Trudeau’s decade in power. The race comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada fuel a wave of patriotism ahead of an expected election.
French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed Russia’s criticism on Thursday, after the Kremlin warned him over nuclear rhetoric. Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, he accused Moscow of imperialism and said Russia’s strong reaction showed his claims were true.
Torrential rains triggered severe flooding in eastern Spain on Thursday, sweeping away cars and forcing school evacuations. Authorities closed roads in Murcia, Valencia, and Catalonia, with officials urging residents to stay indoors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will visit Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aiming to advance peace efforts. His team will remain in the country for talks with U.S. partners, he said in a Telegram post.
North Korea criticised upcoming U.S.-South Korea military drills on Friday, warning they would worsen tensions on the Korean Peninsula, state media KCNA reported. The annual Freedom Shield exercises are set to begin on Monday and last until March 20.
Norway’s government has affirmed that it will continue to supply fuel for U.S. Navy vessels, dismissing recent calls from a private marine fuel supplier to halt deliveries amid tensions linked to U.S.-Ukrainian relations.
President Donald Trump is preparing a new travel ban that could block entry for people from Afghanistan and Pakistan as early as next week. The move is part of an intensified immigration crackdown.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, will chair the 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting hosted this year by Turkmenistan, in Ashgabat, on 4 March.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed his respect for the United States and its people in an interview with Fox News, following a tense meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
Italy’s parliament has rejected opposition amendments aimed at restricting the government from acquiring satellite services from companies outside the European Union.
Preparations for the 2025 Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix have begun, with the paddock reconstruction underway on Neftchilar Avenue, Baku. The race will take place from September 19-21, offering another thrilling event for the city.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over the worsening security, humanitarian, and human rights situation in the Russia-occupied regions, along with the ongoing illegal militarization.
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have agreed to exchange disputed border areas, addressing long-standing conflicts, according to Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The agreement, signed on February 21, aims to resolve territorial issues permanently, with both countries’ interests taken into account.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has handed a note to Moldovan Ambassador Lilian Darii, demanding an explanation of why the country’s President Maia Sandu has not yet received the credentials of Russian envoy to Chisinau Oleg Ozerov.
Canada’s Liberal Party is set to elect a new leader on March 9, moving beyond Justin Trudeau’s decade in power. The race comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats against Canada fuel a wave of patriotism ahead of an expected election.
French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed Russia’s criticism on Thursday, after the Kremlin warned him over nuclear rhetoric. Speaking at an EU summit in Brussels, he accused Moscow of imperialism and said Russia’s strong reaction showed his claims were true.
Torrential rains triggered severe flooding in eastern Spain on Thursday, sweeping away cars and forcing school evacuations. Authorities closed roads in Murcia, Valencia, and Catalonia, with officials urging residents to stay indoors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced he will visit Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aiming to advance peace efforts. His team will remain in the country for talks with U.S. partners, he said in a Telegram post.
North Korea criticised upcoming U.S.-South Korea military drills on Friday, warning they would worsen tensions on the Korean Peninsula, state media KCNA reported. The annual Freedom Shield exercises are set to begin on Monday and last until March 20.
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