Photo collage :Publika

The Center for Social Justice (formerly EMC) is concerned with the fact that the ongoing investigation of the facts of the mass collective organized violence perpetrated by extremist groups in the streets of Tbilisi on July 5-6, still remains ineffective one month later. So far, the investigative bodies have failed not only to fully identify the individual perpetrators of violence, but have also not identified the responsibility of the organizers of the mass violence, and the investigation into the organization of violence remains passive and weak.

On July 5-6, the contraction organized by the Patriarchate and ultra-conservative political and civic groups against the "March of Dignity" held by the LGBTQ organization Tbilisi Pride and its supporters was followed by violence and raids on the streets of Tbilisi. The violent demonstrators, who were clearly pre-organized, attacked 53 journalists and cameramen working on-spot on July 5, as well as several civilians, and raided the offices of the activist organizations Shame and Tbilisi-Pride. The attack on journalists was of varying intensity, although several media workers were severely injured and mutilated. TV First cameraman Lekso Lashkarava, who was also a victim of brutal violence while performing his professional duties on July 5, was found dead at night in his home on July 11. Despite the forced investigative actions and the attempt to cover up the connection with the injuries received on July 5, convincing evidence related to this tragic case, including the final results of the medical examination, has not been released by the Ministry of Interior Affairs so far.

It should be noted that on July 6, violent extremist groups continued to organize in the streets of Tbilisi and again confronted the peaceful civil action against violence by threatening and organizing violence. On July 6, police were able to maintain security, but were unable to take effective police measures and steps on the spot.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs regularly updates information about detainees. According to the official information, 100 people were administratively arrested on July 5, and 68 of those arrested were soon released on the basis of a report. As of August 2, 31 people have been criminally detained for separate episodes of individual violence and interference with professional activities. It is noteworthy that the law enforcement agencies have not yet started an investigation of the facts of violation of the right of assembly (Article 161 of the Criminal Code), while the signs of this crime were clearly present during the events of July 5-6 and these actions were well organized.

In the wake of the events of July 5-6, neither the Ministry of Internal Affairs nor the State Security Service released information about violent extremist groups (their funding, connections, networks, ideologies) or the state-planned retaliatory preventive measures and policies.

While a number of videos have been circulated that show violent extremist group leaders calling for violence either directly at the assembly or through the media, as well as giving instructions to specific people and attempting to organize violence, the organizers and instigators of violence (including the leaders of the extremist media organization Alt Info; father-son Palavandandishvilis; priests involved in calls for violence) have not been arrested so far. Legal tolerance of these groups creates an environment of impunity, normalizes violence, and undermines social peace. The apparent loyalty of the law enforcement agencies towards them shows the signs of the government's responsibility in the process of uplifting extremist groups. Doubts in this regard are exacerbated when, in almost every major process, the public activities of extremist groups are seen to coincide with government interests and rhetoric.

Moreover, the demonstratively weak and ineffective steps taken by the police to prevent the mobilization of violent groups and the violent attacks on the streets of Tbilisi on July 5 did not become the basis for the legal and political responsibility of MIA leaders and other officials. Although the police were / should have been informed in advance of the risks of violence and were prepared in advance for such a scenario [1], an insufficient amount of police forces and equipment were mobilized at the scene of the violent conflict on 5 July. In addition, the MIA has not taken measures to protect specific locations, including offices at risk of attack. In the action management strategy, the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not take into account the interest of protecting journalists’ security and did not ensure the creation of special safe spaces for their movement and work.

The ongoing processes had a severe political context that was far removed from the democratic understanding of human rights by the authorities and encouraged and politically instrumentalized social conflicts. The statements of the Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili regarding these processes were unconstitutional and anti-social.

It is clear that this difficult experience of admitting and tolerating violence on July 5-6 encourages harassment and violence against individual social groups. The most serious cases of homophobic and sexist violence and murder have been reported in recent days (including assault on a Polish tourist, homophobic assault on a German DJ, brutal murder of an Australian female teacher). The current situation and the violent social environment are distressing and create the heaviest attitudes of insecurity and distrust in our society.

In the context of the signs of inefficiency and political instrumentalization of the relevant bodies in connection with the events of July 5-6 (both in the prevention of violent incidents and in the investigation of these incidents), special importance is attached to the effective use of parliamentary oversight and accountability mechanisms.

For respecting and upholding the rule of law, as well as for restoring social trust, the Center for Social Justice considers it essential for:

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office to:

Conduct the ongoing investigations in a timely, proper, thorough manner, and immediately use legal mechanisms against leaders involved in organizing violence on July 5-6;

Strengthen work towards preventing homophobic, sexist violence, including through consultation processes with community and civil society organizations.

State Security Service to:

Publish a report on the growing far-right extremist groups in Georgia (funding, unions, ideologues, networks, etc.), condemn their activities, and implement effective preventive measures and policies against violent groups based on democratic and transparent consultations with experts and civil society organizations.

The government to:

Refrain from rhetoric aimed at tyranny of the majority, impunity and social strife, and take social, educational and political measures to respect and ensure the principles of social peace and equality.

Develop a comprehensive policy to address homophobia.

Parliament to:

It is imperative that Parliament use all possible mechanisms to verify the effectiveness and legality of the activities of the state executive bodies on July 5-6, including the measures taken by the police to ensure security, the ongoing investigation and the fight against violent extremism.

[1] According to the official information of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in accordance with a pre-designed plan, the relevant police units of the MIA were mobilized on Rustaveli Avenue and the surrounding area from the morning of July 5, as well as special reserve forces who were on command to participate if needed. In total, about 3,200 police officers were on standby to take part in the July 5 event.

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