60^th Session of the Human Rights Council

Joint statement on the human rights situation in Georgia

Item 2 General debate

Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Speaking time: 1:30 min

Mr President,

I deliver this statement on behalf of a group of countries.

We would like to draw the Council’s attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Georgia, particularly to the legislation adopted since 2024, which tends to unduly limit freedoms of expression, assembly and association and thus does not align with international human rights standards.

While protests in Georgia since November 2024 have been overwhelmingly peaceful, authorities have often used disproportionate force. Peaceful protesters, journalists and media workers, civil society, and political opponents have faced threats, assaults, and harassment.

We note with concern that criminal proceedings have been initiated against approximately 70 individuals, 7 prominent opposition figures have been sentenced, and 60 persons remain in custody for exercising their human rights. All those arbitrarily detained, including Mzia Amaghlobeli, sentenced to two years in prison, must be released.

We regret that despite repeated appeals from the international community, impartial investigations into the use of force have not taken place, and the recommendations from the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders following her November 2023 country visit have not been implemented.

Therefore, we call on the Georgian authorities to investigate all acts of repression and engage in a genuine, meaningful dialogue with the international community to break the cycle of impunity.