Открытое письмо из Грузии

Given the ongoing situation here in Georgia and the way it is unfolding, I have not been able to post actively these days. But let me offer you my position and give an update regarding respective critical issues before I supply a longer analysis.

Since the Prime Minister of Georgia announced that discussions regarding Georgia’s European Union accession would be postponed until 2028, massive protests have flooded the country, led by the people advocating for democracy, the regulation of law, and Euro-Atlantic integration.

These peaceful demonstrations have been met with a disproportionate usage of force by the police and safety institutions.

For now:

• More than 300 citizens were beaten, tortured, and a victim of inhumane treatment by the police forces;
• More than 80 detainees needed to be transferred for medical treatment;
• About 400 people were arrested, of which more than 350 were charged administratively and 26 were charged under criminal law;
• The age of the detainees is from 15 to 60 years. Women and children are among the arrested;
• None of the police officers are punished and proceed to act with impunity after the brutal crackdowns; as a consequence of the brutal crackdowns;
• Not a single case of a beaten or tortured victim has been referred by judges to a peculiar investigation service. Judges frequently base their decisions on police evidence alternatively than on evidence presented by the victims’ lawyers;
• For hours, the location of the detainees has not been known to their lawyers.

Despite this, even at this moment, the streets are inactive crowded by the protesters!

As individual who firmly believes that the endurance and democratic improvement of Georgia depends on its Euro-Atlantic integration and a strategical partnership with the United States, and as a professional who has contributed to this way over the past decade through various roles –in the General Staff of the Georgian Defence Forces, the Parliament of Georgia, and global organizations specified as NATO and the OSCE, as well as universities in Georgia and Germany – I feel a profound sense of work to proceed advocating for this course.

The current challenges only reenforce the urgency of our commitment to these principles and partnerships while facing Russian business and aggression, the war in the Black Sea region, and China’s economical coercion.

Considering this, as a defence and safety investigation analyst at the Parliament of Georgia and individual actively engaged in global cooperation with partner and donor organizations, I, alongside my colleagues committed to upholding the Constitution and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory, initiated an inter-institutional open letter, which is already signed by more than 400 persons willingly in the latest 48 hours. In this dispatch, we, the employees of the Georgian public sector, express disagreement with the message made on November 28th and unequivocally condemn the disproportionate usage of force against peaceful protesters.

The initiative aims to show that we do not belong to any political party, despite the malign tradition of utilizing administrative resources, and we, solely service the national interests of Georgia!

Regrettably, alternatively of addressing the concerns raised, we have faced intimidating statements from the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Tbilisi, who have threatened that civilian servants “organizing sabotage” will face consequences. However, the right for freedom of speech, enshrined in the Constitution and applicable laws, empowers us to express our loyalty to Georgia’s constitutional principles, individually and collectively.

While our Baltic partners, the EU, and the United States have already expressed their concerns and taken any actions, more must be done. In this critical moment, I call on Georgia’s friends, partners, and my colleagues in Brussels, Washington, and across the full Euro-Atlantic community to act swiftly! Together, we must overcome 1 of the darkest chapters in our nation’s history.

As individual who was educated in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, and who profoundly understands the importance of this minute for regional Black Sea safety and Europe as a whole, I urge you to stand with the resilient citizens and civilian society of Georgia. Now is the time to support democracy and human rights by transforming words into concrete actions, while Georgian citizens request upholding the Georgian constitution and the regulation of law, including the respect of human rights, free and fair elections, and a return to the Euro-Atlantic path.

Despite the intense force we face in these challenging days, I stay committed and ready to engage in any activities that facilitate discussions or disseminate information about the ongoing situation in Georgia.

This letter is authored by Nino Lezhava – a investigation analyst in global safety and affairs.

The views presented in this letter are individual and belong to the author, and do not reflect the position of the Parliamentary investigation Center of Georgia or any another governmental institution with which the author is affiliated.