"The authorities act as if it is their prerogative to decide when people can or cannot protest and deploy riot police to disperse and arbitrarily arrest the protestors using violence," said Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director of Amnesty International for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

"What we witnessed in Tbilisi yesterday was a brutal retribution against people for exercising their right to protest peacefully. The authorities act as if it is their prerogative to decide when people can or cannot protest and deploy riot police to disperse and arbitrarily arrest the protestors using violence. On several occasions, police were seen chasing and hitting fleeing protestors with truncheons, surrounding and beating them mercilessly while on the ground”, - noted Denis Krivosheev.

According to him, the police conducted a punishment operation in Tbilisi yesterday.

“Instead of facilitating a peaceful demonstration, the police have carried out what appears to be a punishment operation. We urge a swift, impartial and thorough investigation into all instances of force used, and accountability for those found responsible of unlawful use of force. We also remind the Georgian authorities that the right to peaceful assembly is fundamental, and the government of Georgia must comply with the country’s international human rights obligations.

Amnesty International also reiterates its call to drop the bill “On transparency of foreign influence,” which seeks to restrict the right to freedom of association and is clearly intended to smear and restrict independent civil society organizations and curb their activities,” said Denis Krivosheev.