The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has called on the Georgian authorities to revise legislation related to freedom of assembly and ensure a fully enabling environment for civil society organizations monitoring demonstrations and providing legal assistance to participants.
The appeal was included in a decision adopted during the Committee’s June 9–11 meeting on the supervision of the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, including the case of Makarashvili and Others v. Georgia.
In its decision, the Committee stressed that freedom of assembly is a fundamental right in a democratic society and, alongside freedom of expression, forms one of the foundations of democracy.
While noting that compensation awarded in the case had been paid, the Committee emphasized that further individual measures are required to ensure that the applicants can continue to participate freely in peaceful demonstrations. It added that such guarantees depend on progress in implementing broader reforms.
Addressing general measures, the Committee reiterated the importance of ensuring that any restrictions on the right to assembly comply with the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality. The deputies expressed “deep concern” over legislative and enforcement measures that may have a chilling effect on the exercise of freedom of assembly.
