Amnesty International’s deputy director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Denis Krivosheev said on Monday that the sentences handed down to participants in May protests against the law on “foreign influence” in Georgia demonstrate the government’s brutality against the opposition, calling them a “parody of justice.”

Krivosheev criticized the police for the mistreatment of protesters and stressed that the imposition of criminal punishment should be in line with the principle of minimum intervention and that its use should be an exception. He said that the severe custodial penalties that were imposed “underscore how Georgia’s criminal justice system has been weaponized to stifle dissent, instill fear, and silence free speech”.

Omar Okribelashvili and Saba Meparishvili were found guilty on January 20 by the Tbilisi City Court of damaging the security barrier at the entrance to the parliament during the May 2024 protests. They were initially sentenced to three years, but the sentence was reduced to 10 months through a plea bargain. The validity of the law used to prosecute the men, Article 187(2)(c) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, is currently under review in another lawsuit. The main point of contention is that the law imposes a fixed minimum prison sentence of three years for all offenders, regardless of individual circumstances, and deprives judges of the ability to tailor sentences according to the unique aspects of each case, potentially violating the principles of fair and individualized justice.

Both activists reported experiencing intense mistreatment during their detention, including systematic psychological intimidation and forceful manipulation. Additionally, Saba Meparishvili specifically alleged that he was physically assaulted by law enforcement.

Protests took place on the streets of Georgia in May after the parliament approved a draft law on “foreign agents” that requires foreign media and NGOs to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. Critics said the bill symbolizes Georgia’s move closer to Russia and many believe the bill was influenced by similar legislation in Russia, which is used to suppress the Kremlin’s political opponents and dissent. The UN Human Rights Chief described the law as undermining freedoms of expression and association.

The Georgian government used force against protesters who engaged in a shootout with riot police in the street outside the parliament building in downtown Tbilisi, including the use of tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, as well as attacks on independent media and journalists. Many were also detained and subjected to violence and ill-treatment.

International human rights law and standards, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Georgia is a party, require that any restriction on the right to peaceful assembly be prescribed by law, pursue one of a limited number of legitimate aims, and be necessary and proportionate to achieve that legitimate aim. Any such law must be predictable in its effects and sufficiently precise to allow individuals to decide how to regulate their behavior.

International human rights law also prohibits torture and other ill-treatment in all circumstances, obliging states to conduct prompt and impartial investigations into all such allegations and have a responsibility to ensure the safety and dignity of every detainee, including from ill-treatment by other detainees.