The level of violence by the Georgian authorities against peaceful protesters shockingly violated the country's domestic laws and international norms. This was stated in a report by the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch, UNN reports.
According to the organization, the security forces chased demonstrators, forcibly detained them and beat them in "widespread and clearly punitive actions".
The police also tortured and ill-treated detainees in police vans and police stations," the report says.
Human Rights Watch notes that its representatives have interviewed dozens of people who have been subjected to police violence and suffered injuries, including concussions, multiple fractures of the nose, facial bones, ribs, and abrasions and bruises all over the body.
Authorities have charged hundreds of demonstrators and convicted them in formal trials, but have not taken effective steps to address allegations of mistreatment of protesters by security forces, the report says.