Urgent Appeal of RCT/EMPATHY dated 12.03.2017 regarding crucial facts Happened on 11 -12 March, in Batumi, 2017 12.03.2017

The events having taken place on 11-12 March, 2017 in the city of Batumi, which, according to protesters,  were the result of uncontrolled behavior of the city police exceeding their commission and illegal detention of 5 people, have made it evident that there are no mechanisms for adequate  independent monitoring in the country; very little attention is paid to the facts of human rights’ violation by law enforcement agencies, which has led the situation to extreme confrontation between protesters and patrol police. The above-mentioned fact was triggered by inadequate and delayed response from state institutions which implies the use of tear gas and rubber bullets for the dispersal of a peaceful action, instead of negotiations.

Taking into consideration the above-mentioned fact, the situation, unfortunately, went out of control. We want to urge the government as well as all opposition parties, take all measures to discharge the tensions peacefully through negotiations.

At the same time, the following measures should be carried out:

1. Set up expeditiously an independent investigation commission with the engagement of civil society and determine the reasons having caused the escalation;
2. establish the mechanism for independent monitoring which will submit authentic information to the society and mass-media on the facts of human rights’ violation by law enforcement agencies;
3. create the working group which will work out legislative proposals to provide a better balance between the authority of law enforcement agencies and human rights protection; and finally,
4. Dismiss the head of police, being blamed by protesters for discriminatory approach, from his position until the end of an impartial investigation.

Mariam  Jishkariani

President of RCT/Empathy

EMPATHY Appeal Batumi, ENG