You are entitled and encouraged to complain if you believe that your freedom of assembly or freedom of expression has been unlawfully restricted.
Administrative proceedings
Only the bodies/officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have the right to arrest a person for violating the rules for organizing and conducting gatherings and demonstrations.
Arresting a person for violation of the rules for organizing and conducting an assembly and demonstration will be illegal if the arrest is made by an unauthorized person.
If you believe that a restriction on your freedom of assembly or expression is unlawful, you can seek judicial review through Georgia’s Administrative Courts.
You can file a claim at the Administrative Court if you believe an administrative decision or action unlawfully restricted your rights. This can include restrictions such as:
- bans on protests
- use of force or dispersal of demonstrations.
- interference with your right to peacefully assemble
You can file a claim either electronically or in paper format at the court. You must include all relevant documents, such as:
- evidence of the restriction or violation
- any written correspondence with authorities
- the law or regulations that you believe were violated
If you believe that you have been unlawfully held or arrested by the law enforcement authorities during a demonstration, you have the right to file a complaint about the lawfulness of arrest and even request compensation if a violation has been found. Read more about the possibilities for complaining about the lawfulness of arrest.
If you have been mistreated by the police during your arrest, you have a right to complain about this. Read more about complaints about mistreatment during arrest.
Constitutional Court
If your right to peaceful assembly is restricted by law and you believe this is in violation of your human rights, you may also complain to the Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court may accordingly declare the legal regulation restricting your right to protest incompatible with the Constitution.
Complaints to international human rights bodies
If you believe that the violation of your rights has not been remedied by Georgian institutions or courts, you can submit a complaint to international or European institutions, such as the European Court of Human Rights or the UN Human Rights Committee.