We, the signatory organizations, express our grave concern about the recent developments that are directed against the country’s democratic development and stability. Particularly disturbing is that the said developments are evaluated positively and encouraged by high-ranking political officials, as well as the fact that civil servants and their family members are actively involved in them.

We believe that the statement that the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, made at the government meeting is absolutely unacceptable, poses a danger of destabilization to the country, and provokes violence:

"You are all given the last chance, I mean the National Movement, to apologize to the public and to stop engaging in provocations. Otherwise, these people will get what they deserve. Not only from the authorities, if the break the law, by also from the people. They should be thankful that during the past three years the people have not done to them what is depicted in those videos. Maybe I’m being blunt, but they have deserved it. They have not been able to appreciate our democratic behavior and humane treatment.”

The aforementioned statement, in conjunction with the recent developments, confirms that the targeted and vandal attacks on the offices of the United National Movement opposition party are linked with the authorities.

According to the assessment of the President of Georgia, this statement of Irakli Garibashviil has made the situation even more strained. The President emphasized the existence of preconditions for disruption of the constitutional order and civil confrontation. At the same time, in the opinion of the former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sweden, Carl Bildt, the statements of the Prime Minister of Georgia are "well outside democratic decency”.

In political crises, it has become a well-tested method for the authorities to publicize the so-called torture videos using various methods (social media, websites, screenings in public gathering places of various cities/towns), including by means of public officials (the Governor of Guria, the Head of the Batumi City Council, the Deputy Minister of Education of Adjara). And on this basis, Georgian Dream activists stage organized violent attacks on the offices of the United National Movement and the organization Free Zone throughout the country. This scenario was used with the aforementioned sequence of events on October 21-22, 2015. Specifically, a new episode of the so-called torture videos was disseminated via the social network and various websites. In parallel, other supporters of Free Zone, the Eurasian Institute and Georgian Dream disseminated threats against members and supporters of the National Movement and their families via Facebook, though at this point an investigation has only been launched against one of them.

The aforementioned was followed by attacks on the offices of the United National Movement in almost all the regions of Georgia: Gurjaani, Akhaltsikhe, Aspindza, Kutaisi, Poti, Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti, Batumi, Tsalenjikha, Lanchkhuti, Gori, Zugdidi, Khobi, etc.

The targeted violent acts are well-organized and their content is similar in all the regions. The common slogans of the attackers are as follows: "SOS Liquidated UNM”, "Torturers, get lost”, "UNM members, get lost”. The attackers vandalize the UNM offices, throw stones at them, and leave the following inscriptions with red paint on the buildings: "Queers, killers”, "Prohibit the National Movement”.

In addition to the UNM offices, acts of vandalism were also carried out against Mikheil Saakashvili Presidential Library. The attackers damaged the infrastructure and made an inscription – "Torturer’s library” – with red paint.

It should be noted that, according to local UNM activists, the attacks involve public officials of the current authorities and members of the Georgian Dream party, against the background of which or due to which law enforcement bodies did absolutely nothing to stop the aforementioned offences.

We emphasize once again that the aforementioned actions are not part of freedom of expression, as argued by the Prime Minister, but they constitute an attack on political opponents which is organized by the authorities. Accordingly, the national legislation is being violated, which calls for effective and timely response by law enforcement bodies.

Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)

Union "Sapari”

Media Development Foundation (MDF)

Identoba

Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS)

Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI)

Baltic to Black Sea Alliance (BBSA)