Georgian Interior Ministry denies allegations of unlawful use of force during protests
Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
The Georgian Interior Ministry on Monday rejected the opposition-leaning media report of “unlawful use” of force during protest rallies against the domestic transparency law earlier this year and stated that suggesting that the police violated the law by simultaneously using water cannons and tear gas was a “lie” and represented a “deliberate attempt” to mislead citizens.
In its statement, the Ministry noted that the law on police “clearly” defined the regulations for the use of special means by the police.
“According to Article 33 of the law, the tear gas may be used to prevent an attack on a person, police officer, or protected facility, or to stop mass or group disturbances of public order, while water cannons are used to prevent mass public order disturbances or to repel group attacks on state or public facilities”, the statement said.
The Ministry further highlighted that the type and intensity of special means used by the police were determined by the specific situation, in accordance with the law.
“We emphasise that neither the law on police nor any legal act prohibits the simultaneous or parallel use of water cannons and tear gas. Furthermore, such a restriction is not stipulated in the recommendations of authoritative international organisations such as OSCE/ODIHR and Amnesty International”, the Ministry stressed.
“According to Amnesty International’s guidelines, water cannons may contain marker dye or chemicals, while the OSCE/ODIHR guidelines allow for the combination of tear gas with water cannons for use against individuals involved in violent actions. Additionally, these documents specify that the sole purpose of tear gas use is to disperse gatherings and it should not be deployed in areas where people have no opportunity to leave”, the statement continued.
“We reiterate that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, when managing violent gatherings or demonstrations, employs special means that fully comply with European standards and are widely used by police units in various European countries. The dissemination of this false information aims to mislead the public and deliberately discredit the Ministry of Internal Affairs”, the Ministry concluded.
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