The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, visited Georgia from 21 to 23 January 2025. He expresses his gratitude to the Georgian authorities for their cooperation and for the open discussions. During the visit he engaged extensively with authorities and civil society. He commends the resilience of civil society and human rights defenders who work under increasingly challenging conditions.

The Commissioner calls for measures to address serious human rights shortcomings.

Commissioner O’Flaherty expresses concern over the lack of accountability for allegations of unlawful arrests and excessive use of force by law enforcement and unidentified masked individuals ("titushkis") in the context of public demonstrations in April 2024 and since 28 November 2024. In this regard he observes that criminal prosecutions against protesters have advanced, but that despite numerous credible reports of ill-treatment, no law enforcement officers have been prosecuted, including in relation to the Spring 2024 protests. Furthermore, the Commissioner draws attention to his earlier recommendation that all law enforcement officers display proper identification to facilitate the prosecution and sanctioning of perpetrators of abuse in line with international good practice.

While acknowledging the increased restraint by law enforcement during the continuation of protests in the latter half of December, the Commissioner expresses concern about new restrictions on protest, including certain amendments to the law ‘On Assemblies and Manifestations’ and the Administrative Offences Code. These restrictions include a blanket ban on face coverings by protesters, expanded grounds for administrative arrest, search and seizure, and harsher fines for publicprotest related administrative offences. He further expresses concern at the quasi-immediate application of these new provisions. “It is critical to ensure that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly is not undermined by administrative or legislative measures,” the Commissioner stated. He notes changes to the Law on Public Service weakening public servants’ protection against dismissal. “I regret that these human rights sensitive laws were adopted in a hurried way, with no meaningful consultation process”.

In his meetings with the authorities, the Commissioner raised the case of Mzia Amaghlobeli, a well-known journalist, whom he visited in prison. Ms Amaghlobeli has been on hunger strike since her arrest on 12 January 2025 for allegedly assaulting a police officer. “Without prejudice to any future decision on the merits of the charges against her, I believe that the continuation of her pre-trial detention is unjustified and I am very concerned about her situation”, the Commissioner said.

The Commissioner expresses his concern about the shrinking space for civil society organisations through a combination of rampant disinformation and stigmatising legislation. “In my discussions with the authorities I pointed out my publicly expressed position about the human rights implications of the law ‘on transparency of foreign influence’ and the fact that it should not have been adopted in the current form”. Under the law, NGOs and media organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad are required to register as ‘organisations pursuing the interests of a foreign power,’ even if there is no evidence that they act as such. “Although the authorities have not yet fined anyone for failing to register, the existence of an automatic, unevidenced and irrebuttable presumption represents an unnecessary and disproportionate restriction on the right of freedom of association,” the Commissioner added.

The Commissioner expresses grave concern regarding the recently adopted law ‘on protecting family values and minors’, which he considers to be incompatible with human rights standards and has previously described as both discriminatory and stigmatising. Among other things, the law prohibits positive references to LGBTI people in literature, film, and media, as well as in schools and at public gatherings. It also bans legal gender recognition, outlawing the change of sex/gender markers in a person’s identification and other state-issued documents, and imposes up to four years’ imprisonment for health professionals providing trans-specific healthcare. “While implementation of the law has not yet begun, its impact is reportedly already felt on the ground, with more limited access to health and other basic services for LGBTI people, increased fear of becoming victims of hate crimes and the exacerbation of stigma faced by LGBTI people,” stated Commissioner O’Flaherty.

The Commissioner observes that the combination of these legislative measures, the failure to ensure prompt accountability for human rights violations and a strong perception in civil society of their inability to obtain justice through the Georgian courts, effectively negates their human rights. He urges the authorities to approach any reforms with careful consideration of the cumulative impact of the body of laws and in full respect of international human rights standards.

During his visit, the Commissioner met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lasha Darsalia; the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze; the Deputy Ministers of Justice, Beka Dzamashvili and Niko Tatulashvili; the Head of the Special Investigation Service, Koka Katsitadze; the First Deputy Prosecutor General, Giorgi Badashvili; and the Public Defender of Georgia, Levan Ioseliani.

This visit marks a continued commitment by the Commissioner to engage with member states and promote the highest standards of human rights protection. He looks forward to an ongoing, open dialogue with the Georgian authorities.

En diciembre de 2024, se publicó el libro Euskadi ante Estrasburgo: Un balance de la actividad de control del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos relativo al País Vasco, como resultado de una iniciativa conjunta del Ararteko y la Cátedra Unesco de Derechos Humanos y Poderes Públicos de la UPV/EHU. 

La iniciativa tomó un primer impulso en 2023, con la celebración de un seminario académico para conmemorar el 75 aniversario de la aprobación de la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, organizado por el Ararteko y la Cátedra Unesco de Derechos Humanos y Poderes Públicos de la UPV/EHU. El objetivo del seminario era impulsar una reflexión sobre la cultura de los derechos humanos en Euskadi, y se decidió, para ello, centrar la mirada en la figura del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos, como mecanismo judicial de los derechos humanos de referencia especial en nuestro territorio. 

Así el seminario, titulado “Los derechos humanos en Euskadi: Un balance de la actividad de control del TEDH en relación con Euskadi”, contó con las intervenciones de figuras de renombre en el ámbito internacional y académico, como la magistrada del TEDH, María Elosegui Itxaso; el relator especial de Naciones Unidas sobre la promoción de la verdad, la justicia, la reparación y las garantías de no repetición, Fabián Salvioli; y los catedráticos Joana Abrisketa, Xabier Arzoz y Alejandro Saiz; además de la catedrática Ana Salinas de Frías, quien, si bien no pudo presentar su ponencia oralmente, sí lo hizo por escrito.  

La publicación Euskadi ante Estrasburgo recoge el contenido del referido seminario académico, de tal suerte que se articula en capítulos específicos para las diferentes aportaciones de cada ponente. El libro se inicia con una presentación del ararteko, que incide en el potencial de colaboración entre el TEDH y las instituciones de defensa de los derechos humanos, como la propia institución del Ararteko. Los capítulos siguientes pretenden hacer un balance y análisis de los pronunciamientos más significativos del TEDH en relación con Euskadi. Entre los temas abordados destacan la libertad de expresión, la prohibición de la tortura, el derecho de asociación, el proceso justo y el principio de legalidad. 

The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, participated in the meeting of the European Regional Board of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). The gathering took place in Nicosia, Cyprus, at the invitation of the Cypriot Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Maria Stylianou Lottides, and was presided over by Mr Reinier Van Zutphen, Ombudsman of the Netherlands and President of the IOI European Region.

During the meeting, board members reviewed recent activities and discussed current developments in the European region. They examined the work of various IOI working groups and representation within these committees. The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, Judge Zammit McKeon, will represent IOI Europe—alongside the President of the Board, Mr Van Zutphen—in both the Code of Ethics Working Group and the By-Laws Committee. The board members also discussed matters related to the functioning of the IOI’s European chapter, as well as upcoming activities and events.

The Board also discussed the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on 17 December 2024, which reaffirms the critical role of Ombudsman institutions in promoting the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It was noted that, with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights, in countries where the Ombudsman also functions as a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI), this dual role has proven highly effective, as both mandates complement each other.

European Regional Board Membership

The European Regional Board is composed of Mr Reinier Van Zutphen (Regional President, Ombudsman of the Netherlands), Mr Marc Bertrand (Ombudsman of Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation), Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon (Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta), Mr Marino Fardelli (Presidente del Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici delle Regioni), Mr Peter Svetina (Ombudsman of Slovenia), , Mr Dymtro Lubinets (Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights), and Ms Maria Stylianou Lottides (Human Rights Commissioner of Cyprus).

About the IOI

Established in 1978, the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) is the only global organisation dedicated to the cooperation of more than 200 independent Ombudsman institutions from over 100 countries worldwide. Organised into six regional chapters—Africa, Asia, Australasia & Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean & Latin America, and North America—the IOI supports its members through training, research, and regional subsidies for projects. Its overarching aim is to promote good governance and strengthen the capacity of Ombudsman institutions around the world.

Am 21.01.2025 konnte die derzeitige Vorsitzende der Volksanwaltschaft Elisabeth Schwetz den slowakischen Ombudsmann („Public Defendor of the Rights“, PDOR) Robert Dobrovodský mit einer Delegation im Haus begrüßen. Begleitet wurde Dobrovodský von Mitarbeitern im Bereich der Grundrechte und des NPM. Anlass für den Antrittsbesuch war der Austausch in den Themenbereichen Polizei und Menschenrechte. PDOR will dem slowakischen Parlament einen Bericht, der auch Best-Practice-Beispiele aus anderen europäischen Ländern enthalten soll, vorlegen.

Volksanwältin Schwetz, zu deren Prüfgebieten auch die Polizei zählt, erläuterte mit ihren Experten Ombudsmann Dobrovodský die Zuständigkeiten der Volksanwaltschaft sowie den Ablauf des Prüfverfahrens einer OPCAT-Kommission. Eine Erkenntnis war, dass in Österreich potentielle Fälle von Polizeimissbrauch auf zwei mögliche Arten – im Rahmen eines Kommissionsbesuchs oder auch eines Verfahrens der nachprüfenden Kontrolle aufgrund einer konkreten Beschwerde oder amtswegig – untersucht werden können.

Ebenso wurde über die Organisation der OPCAT-Kommissionen der Volksanwaltschaft sowie die Verankerung der Ausbildung auf dem Gebiet der Grund- und Menschenrechte in der Polizei-Grundausbildung, das Spannungsfeld zwischen polizeilicher Befehls- und Zwangsgewalt und den Schutz der Grundrechte oder die entsprechende Empfehlungsliste der Volksanwaltschaft gesprochen.