Georgia: Elections marred by severe reprisals and risk of further violence
Georgia’s 4 October local elections are taking place amid severe political reprisals against opposition figures and civil society, Amnesty International said.
The human rights organization has documented a sweeping campaign of repression, including politically motivated prosecutions of opposition figures, the silencing of independent media and civil society through restrictive laws and punitive measures, and the widespread arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of protesters.
“With opposition leaders jailed and civil society organizations under attack, the Georgian authorities are holding an election campaign in a context where people’s rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly are being crushed,” said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director.
