UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Volker Türk called on the Georgian authorities to show restraint towards demonstrators Human Rights
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed concern over reports of “unjustified and disproportionate” use of force by law enforcement officers against demonstrators and media workers in the Georgian capital this week.
“Thousands of Georgians have been protesting the Foreign Influence Transparency Bill for days, and authorities must fully respect and protect their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the High Commissioner said in a statement. – Any restrictions on these rights must comply with the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. The use of force during protests must always remain an exceptional and last resort.” and also in conclusion. “Anyone who has been arbitrarily detained for exercising their rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly must be released immediately,” he said. “The charges against them must also be dropped.”
The High Commissioner called on demonstrators and protest organizers to exercise their rights peacefully and not resort to violence, and on the Georgian authorities to withdraw the controversial bill and start a dialogue, including with civil society and the media.