During the recent days, the Government has been using new forms of police terror against the participants of the demonstrations and active citizens. The hotline of the non-governmental organizations is constantly receiving the reports of violations of procedural legislation and citizens’ rights committed by the police.
In particular, the police officers are arriving at the homes of citizens, who have been participating in the protests, and telling them or their family members that they are handing over the summon, and requesting the entry into the house; afterwards, they forcibly take the individuals, against the latter’s will and without providing the grounds, to the MIA Central Criminal Police Department. Their questioning also takes place forcedly. The lawyers are denied access to meet the citizens and provide legal representation. Despite the several attempts of lawyers over the past few days, they were unable to meet the forcedly detained people.
The Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia explicitly outlines that the party conducting the questioning shall from the beginning inform the interviewee that the process is voluntary and the latter has the right to use the services of a lawyer. Giving testimony is only obligatory when a person is summoned to the magistrate judge, making the above-mentioned actions of the police illegal.
Therefore, the unlawful arrest of citizens by the police, their forced transportation for questioning, forced questioning, and the restriction of the lawyers’ rights to representation are severe violations of the Constitution of Georgia and other legislative acts, and shall be stopped immediately.
The Signatory Organizations:
