President Salome Zourabichvili stated that December 10, International Human Rights Day, is a day when human rights are being trampled underfoot in Georgia.
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“This day is recognized worldwide as a celebration of human rights. However, in Georgia today, it is not a day of celebration but a day of trampling on human rights. This is how we must remember this day, and this is how it will be recorded in Georgia's history. All those who participated or will participate in these events will certainly go down in history because the Georgian people and the Georgian nation will never forget. Everyone will be exposed, regardless of where they are or what masks they wear, and we will remember each of them.
Today, not only are all rights being violated, but they are being deliberately trampled upon. [...] Even the Public Defender used the term ‘torture,’ and this will also go down in history,” said Zourabichvili.
The President addressed the attempts to intimidate public officials, noting that Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze is not the only one issuing threats to those citizens who dared to sign the protest.
“This is the clearest sign that freedom of expression is being eroded. All of this, which you are well aware of and which I won’t elaborate on here,
signifies that not only have human rights been restricted in this country, but we have also transitioned to a regime waging genuine terror against its citizens, its youth, and various segments of society. This regime does not hesitate to use torture. In brief and more straightforward terms, this is already a Russian-style regime,” Salome Zourabichvili stated.
According to Salome Zourabichvili, Georgian Dream's actions violate the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights.
“This regime is not content with these actions and is preparing new laws. On one hand, the recently initiated law banning the wearing of masks applies only to civilians, who will lose the right to protect their health and safety. On the other hand, it says nothing about their titushky, who will continue to wear masks without any obligation to display identification, as required by global standards. Another new initiative aims to terrorize people in the public sector by simplifying reorganization processes and enabling arbitrary dismissals. These measures are being used to the regime’s advantage and to tighten its grip on power,” the President remarked.
Zourabichvili further criticized a statement made by the State Security Service, describing it as a violation of human rights.
“These scenarios, which mention corpses, amount to psychological terror against the population at a time when only peaceful protests are taking place outside,
as was clearly demonstrated yesterday evening. When there are no titushky or provocateurs present, the rallies remain peaceful and dignified, reflecting the character of our country and society.
Another troubling initiative involves the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ decision to simplify the hiring process for new personnel by removing the requirement for diplomas. It seems that, in this country, no one needs qualifications for anything anymore. This is a direct pathway to recruiting more ‘titushki’ from wherever they can be found. This also suggests that the regime is running out of resources, which is a noteworthy development,” the President added.
According to Salome Zourabichvili, what is happening in Georgia today is unacceptable for any democratic country and requires an urgent response.
