HRW warns of growing human rights concerns in Georgia

Rachel Denber, Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch (HRW), has raised concerns over Georgia’s political climate, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of leading the country toward a human rights crisis, news outlet OC Media reported.

In an interview with Voice of America on Saturday, Denber criticized the government’s recent actions, including legislative changes that increase penalties for protesters. Last week, the Georgian parliament passed amendments extending administrative detention from 15 to 60 days.

According to OC Media, HRW has documented cases of violence against demonstrators, activists, and journalists, with reports of coordinated attacks occurring not only at protests but also in private locations. Denber suggested these incidents were not isolated but did not explicitly state who was behind them.

Georgia has witnessed ongoing protests for over 70 days, largely driven by opposition to government policies and concerns over halted EU accession efforts. Human rights activists estimate that more than 400 protesters may have been detained in demonstrations last year, with allegations of abuse by law enforcement.