Dr. Shariful Haque Priom

Authorities in Georgia have detained and charged five current and former law enforcement officers over violent attacks committed during the country’s controversial 2024 anti-government protests, marking the first major attempt to hold security personnel accountable for abuses that shocked the nation and drew widespread international criticism.

The arrests come months after mass demonstrations erupted across Georgia following the government’s decision to suspend talks related to accession to the European Union, a move that triggered outrage among pro-European citizens, opposition groups, journalists, and civil society organizations.

According to Georgian prosecutors, the detained individuals include four riot police officers – three former officers and one active-duty officer – as well as a current official from the Security Police Department. Prosecutors allege that the officers used excessive force and violence against demonstrators and media workers during the unrest that swept through the country in 2024.

At a briefing on May 7, Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze said the defendants are accused of assaulting journalist Guram Rogava, opposition politician Levan Khabeishvili, and protester Zviad Maisashvili during the demonstrations.

The charges include “exceeding official powers using violence,” while one suspect also faces an additional accusation of unlawfully interfering with a journalist’s professional activities through violent means. If convicted, the accused could face prison sentences ranging from five to eight years.

Two of the five suspects were reportedly already in custody for unrelated criminal or administrative offenses, while the remaining three were arrested during coordinated operations carried out on May 7.

The prosecutions represent a significant development in a country where critics have long accused authorities of failing to investigate police misconduct, particularly during politically sensitive events. Human rights organizations have repeatedly argued that law enforcement officers involved in the crackdown acted with near-total impunity despite extensive video evidence and testimony documenting abuses.

The demonstrations began after the Georgian government announced it would freeze efforts connected to European Union accession negotiations, a decision that many Georgians viewed as a major reversal of the country’s long-standing pro-European orientation. Thousands of citizens took to the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, and other cities demanding that the government restore its commitment to European integration.

The protests quickly escalated into some of the largest demonstrations seen in Georgia in recent years. Riot police were deployed in large numbers and clashes soon erupted between security forces and demonstrators. Numerous videos circulated online showing protesters being beaten, dragged through streets, and detained violently by masked officers.

Journalists covering the unrest also became targets. Media workers reported being struck with batons, threatened, obstructed from filming, and in some cases detained while performing their duties. Domestic and international press freedom groups condemned the treatment of reporters and called for independent investigations.

One of the most widely discussed incidents involved former Formula TV reporter Guram Rogava, who alleged that he was violently attacked while covering the protests. Earlier this week, Georgian broadcaster Formula TV released an investigative report that identified the initials of an officer allegedly involved in the assault.

The publication intensified public pressure on prosecutors to take action and may have accelerated the arrests announced days later.

Despite the prosecutions, Rogava expressed concern that the officer directly responsible for attacking him might not be among those detained. He also argued that accountability efforts should extend beyond frontline officers to senior officials who allegedly directed the crackdown.

“It is important that an investigation be conducted not only against the perpetrators, but also against those who gave the orders,” Rogava said in comments broadcast by Formula TV following the arrests.

Rights organizations have echoed those concerns, arguing that abuses committed during the protests appeared systematic rather than isolated. According to local watchdog groups, hundreds of demonstrators were detained during the unrest, and more than 300 people later reported beatings, intimidation, or other forms of ill-treatment while in custody.

International organizations also voiced alarm over the situation. The Council of Europe and several press freedom and human rights groups criticized what they described as a persistent lack of police accountability in Georgia. Investigators and activists argued that authorities were slow to respond to mounting evidence of abuses despite extensive documentation from journalists, lawyers, medical personnel, and victims.

The crackdown further deepened political tensions in Georgia, where divisions have intensified over the country’s geopolitical direction. Opposition parties accuse the ruling government of undermining democratic institutions and steering the country away from Europe and closer toward authoritarian governance models.

Government officials, however, have defended the actions of security forces during the demonstrations, arguing that police were responding to unrest and attempts to destabilize public order. Authorities have also accused some opposition groups of provoking confrontations during rallies.

Still, the newly announced prosecutions may signal an attempt by Georgian authorities to address mounting domestic and international criticism. Analysts say the arrests could help ease pressure from European institutions that have closely monitored Georgia’s democratic trajectory and human rights record.

Georgia’s aspirations for eventual membership in the European Union have long enjoyed strong public support. Polls consistently show that a large majority of Georgian citizens favor deeper integration with Europe and support reforms tied to EU membership standards. As a result, the government’s suspension of accession-related efforts became a deeply emotional and politically explosive issue.

Observers say the handling of the 2024 protests may ultimately influence Georgia’s international standing and its future relationship with European institutions. The European Union has repeatedly emphasized that judicial independence, media freedom, and accountability for abuses are essential requirements for countries seeking closer ties with the bloc.

Human rights advocates are now calling for broader investigations into the conduct of police commanders, Interior Ministry officials, and political leaders who may have authorized or tolerated violent tactics during the demonstrations.

For many protesters and journalists who experienced violence firsthand, the arrests represent only an initial step in what they believe must become a much wider accountability process.

Whether Georgian authorities pursue further prosecutions – particularly against higher-ranking officials – may determine if the country can restore public trust after one of the most contentious and violent political crises in its recent history.