NGOs: We consider the trend of arbitrary and illegal arrests of peaceful protest participants by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to be concerning

TI Georgia and ISFED are responding to the events that took place on June 3, in Batumi's Europe Square.

Non-governmental organizations call it concerning that the Ministry of Internal Affairs "continues the practice of illegally detaining peaceful protestors".

"We respond to the events that took place at Europe Square in Batumi. Yesterday, June 3, the police arrested six people, including 2 minors, for unfurling banners at a peaceful demonstration in Batumi.

It is concerning that the Ministry of Internal Affairs still continues the practice of illegally arresting participants of a peaceful protest, which is a gross interference in the freedom of expression and contradicts both the Georgian Constitution and internationally recognized standards.

As it is known, on June 2, in front of the Parliament in Tbilisi, 7 participants of a peaceful gathering were arrested due to banners with similar content, and they were taken to temporary detention centers in Telavi, Gurjaani and Dusheti. Until now, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not made any clarification regarding the need to transfer detainees to regional isolation cells. This raises suspicions that the reason for this decision could be the limitation of the right of defense for the detainees and the obstruction of unhindered communication with the lawyers. It should also be noted that the detention period of the detainees was extended up to 48 hours without justification.

We consider the trend of arbitrary and illegal arrests of peaceful protest participants by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to be concerning.

We call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop arresting the participants of the peaceful protest, illegal restriction of freedom of expression and to immediately release all those detained!", the statement reads.