Georgian Justice Minister: ECHR has once again confirmed state’s full legitimate right to use special measures when law enforcement officers, state institutions come under attack
Paata Salia
Photo: Ministry of Justice
Georgian Minister of Justice Paata Salia on Thursday positively assessed the decision of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Tsaava and Others v. Georgia, which once again confirmed the state’s legitimate right to use special means during violent protest rallies.
“The first and most important thing is that the Court once again confirmed the state’s right to use special means when there is an attack on law enforcement officers and state bodies. This was clearly emphasised and in this case, the state’s full legitimate right to use special means was confirmed”, Salia said.
The Minister further noted that the decision also mentions certain shortcomings in the investigation process, namely the use of disproportionate force to disperse the rally in certain cases.
He added that the Georgian Government actively cooperated with the court in terms of establishing these circumstances.
“As you know, following the delivery of the initial judgment on 7 June 2024, the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office promptly intensified the investigation and identified the responsibility of senior officials. This eventually led to the initiation of criminal proceedings against former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia on 12 November 2025. The Grand Chamber confirmed the very circumstances that our Prosecutor’s Office had already examined… These findings will also be taken into account in the ongoing investigation”, he continued.
Salia emphasised that the decision of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights put an end to speculation that criminal proceedings against Gakharia were politically motivated.
“I believe this ruling puts an end to political speculation suggesting that Mr. Gakharia was being politically persecuted by the government. After this decision, there should be no further questions on the matter. The Court confirmed that in certain cases senior officials indeed exceeded their authority during the dispersal of the demonstration”, he concluded.
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