Representatives of the Office of Public Defender of Georgia on Friday visited eight individuals detained amid ongoing protests against the bill on transparency of foreign influence in Tbilisi this week, the body said.
The Office visited arrested protesters including blogger Ucha Abashidze, who alleged psychological pressure and verbal abuse from law enforcement, with the Office handing over the claims to the Special Investigation Service.
Abashidze was arrested on charges of illegal purchase and storage of weapons and ammunition as part of an ongoing investigation into a cyberattack against the Interior Ministry, Justice Ministry and the Parliament, and told the Office he had “repeatedly asked for lawyer” representation during the search of his house but was not granted access.
The Office stressed the right to legal representation and added the protester should be granted the opportunity to meet with legal representation “immediately”.
It also said some of the individuals arrested during the protests had also reported “improper treatment” by law enforcement.
The body said its representatives were continuing to look for arrested protesters to gather information about conditions of their physical health and circumstances of detention.
