The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze met Michael O’Flaherty. He is the European Human Rights commissioner and currently on an official visit to Georgia.
The minister of internal affairs during his meeting with Michael O’Flaherty meeting discussed the situation regarding the protests held in recent months. Wide scale protests were held across the country after announcement of ruling party Georgian Dream to suspend accession talk of country in European Union till 2028.
Moreover minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze also provided the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights with detailed information on the illegal actions committed by violent participants of the protests.
The protesters during the recent demonstrations caused large scale violence. He spoke about the measure taken by Georgian authorities against these anti-social elements by member of police and other law enforcement agencies.
The parties expressed their readiness for deepening future cooperation and information sharing. Many times exchanging information by agencies with other countries play very significant role to maintain law and order.
The last year also country faced many violent protest. The adoption of controversial foreign agent law was opposed not by opposition political parties but large number non-governmental organisation as well as civil society organisation also joined this anti-government protests.
The protesters expressed fears that this law will stifle independent media voices across country. However, Georgan Dream government of country amid large scale protest implement this law.
The law imposed restrictions on NGO , CSO to register itself with competent authority. The NGO who are receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign country have to register themselves under this law.
It is also worth to note that within the scope of the meeting, the recent legislative amendments and their compliance with the international standards was also discussed. At the end of the meeting, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze thanked Michael O’Flaherty and noted that cooperation with the institutions of the Council of Europe is important and a priority for Georgia.
