Georgian Public Defender Levan Ioseliani has released a statement regarding the dispersal of the November 29 protest on Rustaveli Avenue.

According to the statement, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) deployed a significant number of police forces and special units against protesters starting at 2 a.m., employing inhumane treatment, violence, and harassment, as evidenced by video footage circulated by media outlets.

Ioseliani criticized the unwarranted use of special measures against politicians and journalists, noting that police pursued demonstrators at a distance from the assembly site, signalling “possible retribution and intimidation.”

The intentional damage to video equipment and the violent treatment of journalists exemplify mistreatment and interference with their professional duties.

“The criminal actions of the Special Task Forces are likely to be bolstered by assurances of impunity,” Ioseliani stated.

He mentioned that representatives from the Public Defender’s Office visited 11 detained individuals. Nine of these individuals remain in custody, while contact has been lost with two others who were admitted to a clinic due to multiple injuries.

The investigation has identified nine cases of alleged mistreatment, three of which involve journalists. The Public Defender’s Office has alerted the Special Investigation Service about the individuals who were victims of abuse and has urged the Prosecutor’s Office to conduct an effective investigation promptly.

Moreover, the statement calls on the MIA not to impede the investigation and to provide identification information regarding MIA, Special Task Force members, and other police personnel involved in the dispersal.

“The Public Defender’s Office urges the courts to ensure the robust protection of the detained protesters’ right to a fair trial, to assess the lawfulness of their detention, and to avoid relying solely on police testimonies in the absence of neutral evidence,” the statement concludes.