The South Caucasus News - SouthCaucasusNews.com

Large numbers of party members continue to leave the ranks of the UNM. At a special briefing on December 10, Tbilisi UNM members announced that the chairs of 15 district organizations of Tbilisi and about 300 members have already left the party.

Ana Gogoladze, the deputy chair of the United National Movement faction and Bacho Dolidze, the former organizing secretary of the UNM are among those who have left. According to Gogoladze, she made the decision to leave because at this stage her vision on methods of struggle and ways of managing the party differed from those of the current leadership of the United National Movement. Bacho Dolidze stated: “We all see the results of informal rule in the National Movement party … I am leaving the National Movement because it is time for a new movement. A new platform will be created from which a new, different and clean politics will be possible.”

Davit Lagvilava, the leader of the Saburtalo district organization, cited internal problems within the United National Movement, including clannishness, closed doors, informal rule and alleged persecution of individuals with dissenting and critical opinions. “We believe that today the “National Movement” is no longer an effective weapon to defeat the current Russian regime” he said.

Lagvilava announced their intention to join a new party soon to be founded by Nika Melia, stating: “From this party we will continue the fight with dignity and truth”.

In parallel, in Kutaisi, seven deputies of Sakrebulo and hundreds of party members declare that they leave the mandate of the party. The deputies leave the party, but not the mandate of Sakrebulo. Former UNM members say that they will continue the political struggle along with Nika Melia and that the reason is the new leadership of the party, “because the current leader has aggravated the crisis in the party”.

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On December 10, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed human rights challenges in the country in a lengthy statement issued on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a pivotal document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 in the aftermath of World War II. The Ombudsman’s statement covers a multitude of topics including poverty, implications of the Russian occupation, rights of persons with disabilities, civil-political rights, media freedom, penitentiary system concerns, gender-based violence.

According to the Public Defender’s Office, in 2023, “the protection of human rights was stained by the killing of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi by the occupation forces.” This grave event echoes previous instances of impunity for the murders of Davit Basharuli, Giga Otkhozoria, Archil Tatunashvili, and Irakli Kvaratskhelia, for which the Russian Federation bears responsibility. Additionally, the statement outlines ongoing violations, such as illegal detentions, ill-treatment of citizens in occupied territories, and the restriction of education in native language for the ethnic Georgian population.

• 06/11/2023 – Russian Occupation Forces Kill One Georgian Citizen, Abduct Another

The Public Defender also points out persistent challenges in addressing poverty, particularly its impact on vulnerable groups, including children and older persons. Issues related to child poverty, abuse prevention, and the lack of proper living conditions are highlighted, emphasizing the need for flexible and effective support services.

In addition, the statement addresses the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of inclusive education and the lack of a national accessibility plan or a standard. It also raises concerns about the obstacles faced by national minorities in terms of education, cultural activities, and participation in decision-making processes.

The statement criticizes government’s handling assemblies and demonstrations. “Unfortunately, when interfering with the freedom of assembly, the police used disproportionate force in some cases,” in 2023, the statement says, adding that “For example, the dispersal of the rally held on March 7-9, 2023 and the unjustified termination of the entire assembly by law enforcement officers with the use of force were based on the violent actions of only a part of the participants in the assembly, which, according to the Public Defender’s assessment, required the implementation of individual – necessary and proportionate measures against specific offenders.”

According to the Public Defender, the detention of participants in assemblies and demonstrations is based on the Administrative Offences Code adopted in 1984 during the Soviet era, which is incompatible with the current constitutional order of Georgia.

Freedom of the media, the activities of human rights defenders and issues relating to psychiatric institutions and the rights of prisoners within the penitentiary system were also areas of concern throughout the year. With regard to the latter, the Public Defender writes that “the vicious practice of lengthy placement of prisoners of closed institutions in de-escalation rooms and solitary confinement (secure) cells without the grounds provided for by the law, for the purpose of punishment, which the Public Defender assesses as ill-treatment, remains a serious challenge.”

The statement concludes by noting the positive development of the European Commission’s recommendation that Georgia be granted the status of candidate country for EU membership. Nevertheless, the Public Defender stresses the need for further efforts in the reform of the judicial system and the fulfilment of the conditions set by the European Commission.

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• 08/12/2023 – Georgian Public Defender Visits Kyiv
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