An open letter from Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia - 11.30.2024: Protest In Georgia against Government. Photo: George Khelashvili / Shutterstock

Given the ongoing situation here in Georgia and the way it is unfolding, I have not been able to post actively these days. But let me offer you my perspective and give an update regarding several critical issues before I provide a longer analysis.

Since the Prime Minister of Georgia announced that discussions regarding Georgia’s European Union accession would be postponed until 2028, massive protests have flooded the country, led by the people advocating for democracy, the rule of law, and Euro-Atlantic integration.

These peaceful demonstrations have been met with a disproportionate use of force by the police and security institutions.

 For now:

• More than 300 citizens were beaten, tortured, and a victim of inhumane treatment by the police forces;
• More than 80 detainees needed to be transferred for medical treatment;
• About 400 people were arrested, of which more than 350 were charged administratively and 26 were charged under criminal law;
• The age of the detainees is from 15 to 60 years. Women and children are among the arrested;
• None of the police officers are punished and continue to act with impunity after the brutal crackdowns; as a result of the brutal crackdowns;
• Not a single case of a beaten or tortured victim has been referred by judges to a special investigation service. Judges often base their decisions on police testimony rather than on evidence presented by the victims’ lawyers;
• For hours, the location of the detainees has not been known to their lawyers.

Despite this, even at this moment, the streets are still crowded by the protesters!

As someone who firmly believes that the survival and democratic development of Georgia depends on its Euro-Atlantic integration and a strategic partnership with the United States, and as a professional who has contributed to this path over the past decade through various roles –in the General Staff of the Georgian Defence Forces, the Parliament of Georgia, and international organizations such as NATO and the OSCE, as well as universities in Georgia and Germany – I feel a profound sense of responsibility to continue advocating for this course.

The current challenges only reinforce the urgency of our commitment to these principles and partnerships while facing Russian occupation and aggression, the war in the Black Sea region, and China’s economic coercion.

Considering this, as a defence and security research analyst at the Parliament of Georgia and someone actively engaged in international cooperation with partner and donor organizations, I, alongside my colleagues committed to upholding the Constitution and Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory, initiated an inter-institutional open letter, which is already signed by more than 400 persons willingly in the latest 48 hours. In this dispatch, we, the employees of the Georgian public sector, express disagreement with the statement made on November 28th and unequivocally condemn the disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters.

The initiative aims to demonstrate that we do not belong to any political party, despite the malign tradition of using administrative resources, and we, solely serve the national interests of Georgia!

Regrettably, instead of addressing the concerns raised, we have faced intimidating statements from the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Tbilisi, who have threatened that civil servants “organizing sabotage” will face consequences.  However, the right for freedom of speech, enshrined in the Constitution and relevant laws, empowers us to express our loyalty to Georgia’s constitutional principles, individually and collectively.

While our Baltic partners, the EU, and the United States have already expressed their concerns and taken some actions, more must be done. In this critical moment, I call on Georgia’s friends, partners, and my colleagues in Brussels, Washington, and across the entire Euro-Atlantic community to act swiftly! Together, we must overcome one of the darkest chapters in our nation’s history.

 As someone who was educated in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, and who deeply understands the significance of this moment for regional Black Sea security and Europe as a whole, I urge you to stand with the resilient citizens and civil society of Georgia. Now is the time to support democracy and human rights by transforming words into concrete actions, while Georgian citizens demand upholding the Georgian constitution and the rule of law, including the respect of human rights, free and fair elections, and a return to the Euro-Atlantic path.

Despite the intense pressure we face in these challenging days, I remain committed and ready to engage in any activities that facilitate discussions or disseminate information about the ongoing situation in Georgia.

This letter is authored by Nino Lezhava – a research analyst in international security and affairs. 

The views presented in this letter are personal and belong to the author, and do not reflect the position of the Parliamentary Research Center of Georgia or any other governmental institution with which the author is affiliated.

EU integration, Georgia, protests