The European Union condemns the repressive actions against the demonstrators, media representatives and opposition leaders and calls for the immediate release of all those arrested, - the press spokesperson of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, Anitta Hipper, issued a statement about this.
"For almost two weeks, the Georgian people have been coming out to defend their democratic and European aspirations, while they are facing brutal and illegal use of force by the police while exercising their right to expression. Arrests of protestors and opposition leaders continue, and media representatives are targeted by law-enforcement agencies and informal violent groups," says Anitta Hipper.
The EU's chief spokesperson for foreign and security policy says that more than 400 people have been arrested and more than 300 victims of violence and ill-treatment, many of whom required emergency medical treatment.
"The alarming reports of civil society organizations and the Public Defender of Georgia indicate brutal and targeted violence, which gives rise to well-founded fears about reports of torture and inhumane treatment. Despite these reports, the question of responsibility of not a single police officer or member of informal violent group has not arisen yet," the press-speaker notes.
According to her, the call of the European Union is the release of all detainees.
"The European Union condemns these repressive actions against demonstrators, media representatives and opposition leaders and calls for the immediate release of all those arrested. The EU calls for an end to widespread intimidation, political persecution and reportedly torture and ill-treatment of citizens. Fundamental rights, such as the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, must be protected in accordance with the Constitution of Georgia and international obligations," the press-speaker said.
According to the statement, the European Union calls on "Georgian Dream" to de-escalate.
"All allegations of torture and ill-treatment must be credibly investigated. We call on local and international organizations, as well as the Public Defender, to continue documenting cases of widespread violations of human rights in Georgia. Violence is not an answer to the demands of the demonstrators about the democratic and European future of Georgia," the statement said.
The spokesperson of the European Union notes that it was the actions of "Georgian Dream" that caused the de facto suspension of the process of Georgia's integration into the European Union.
"The long democratic backsliding and the recent repressive measures used by the Georgian authorities have affected our bilateral relations. The European Union will consider additional measures on December 16, at the next Council of Foreign Affairs," Anitta Hipper says.
