Deteriorating media freedom, lack of accountability for law enforcement’s abuses, the imprisonment of Mtavari TV CEO Nika Gvaramia, amongst others, are highlights of the Human Rights Watch World Report Georgia section for 2022.
The international human rights monitoring group highlights the spotlight on human rights in the 12 recommendations presented to Georgia by the EU in order to obtain its candidacy status, while also referring to a number of concerns issued by key interlocutors on the trajectory of democracy in Georgia.
The report singles out the case of jailing Mr Gvaramia over managerial decisions, stressing that his imprisonment was denounced by Georgian CSOs, as well as the Ombudsperson as “unlawful and politically motivated.”
The HRW also mentions a number of instances of physical assaults and attacks on media workers and journalists. This includes an attack on Ema Gogokhia, a Mtavari TV reporter, and her cameraman, while they were filming municipal employees removing a drawing of the Ukrainian flag from the façade of a political party’s office. An attack on Murman Zoidze, a TV Pirveli cameraman in Batumi, and an incident when MP Anri Okhanashvili physically attacked TV Pirveli owner on the US Embassy premises are also included.
Additionally, the HRW focused on three journalists dismissed by the Georgian Public Broadcaster amidst their accusations of the Broadcaster’s management of pro-Russian censorship.
Impunity of the Law Enforcement
“Persistent” impunity of abuses by law enforcement is another focus of the report. That none of the 61 investigations launched based on 70 complaints by prison staff or police “resulted in criminal prosecution at the time of writing” is highlight of this section.
Focusing on the highly controversial scraping of the State Inspector’s Service after “the opening of an investigation by the state inspector into possible ill-treatment and violations of data protection laws regarding jailed ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili.“
Mentioning the controversial surveillance bill simplifying the authorities’ ability to wiretap and subject citizens to surveillance without their knowledge. Despite the President’s veto, the bill was adopted overridden by the ruling party.
LGBTQ+ and Women’s Rights
According to the HRW, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Georgia continue to face harassment, discrimination, and violence. An incident in May 2022 when a group of some 30 men attacked five transgender women in their home in Tbilisi is mentioned.
A number of femicide cases with a separate emphasis on the case of Khanum Jeiranova, an honor crime victim, are cited as examples of Georgia failing to protect women from gender-based discrimination.
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