The sentencing of demonstrators to imprisonment in Georgia reflects the misuse of the justice system to suppress dissenting opinions, according to a statement by Amnesty International.
Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, commented on the sentencing of 20 demonstrators, including activist Saba Skhvitaridze and actor Andro Chichinadze, for participating in anti-government protests over the past two days.
“The trials of Andro Chichinadze, Saba Skhvitaridze, and others demonstrate that the Georgian authorities are using the justice system to punish demonstrators and suppress dissenting opinions. Demonstrators in Georgia have faced human rights violations, including torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detentions, and unfair trials,” the statement reads.
According to the statement, “these cases mark a systemic violation of access to justice for hundreds of demonstrators.”
“Saba Skhvitaridze, who was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in violation of his right to a fair trial, was also denied the right to an effective investigation into allegations of torture and other ill-treatment. The Georgian authorities must overturn these unjust verdicts, ensure the release of Saba Skhvitaridze, Andro Chichinadze, and others, and provide them with new, fair trials. All those detained solely for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression must be immediately released,” the statement notes.
Amnesty International: The Georgian authorities are using the justice system to punish protesters and suppress dissent – unjust verdicts must be annulled
