BAGHASHVILI AND OTHERS v. GEORGIA

Published on 28 June 2021 FIFTH SECTIONApplication no. 20129/21Tamar BAGHASHVILI and Othersagainst Georgialodged on 7 April 2021communicated on 7 June 2021SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASEThe application concerns the dispersal of a public demonstration held in Tbilisi in front of the Parliament of Georgia on 20-21 June 2019 (see also applications nos. 8684/20, 13186/20, 16757/20, and 20175/21). Initially peaceful, it escalated into violent clashes between police and protesters. Tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons were used against the protesters, including allegedly from a short distance, as a result of which many were injured. All eleven applicants were journalists who were reporting the events. They allege that they were specifically targeted by the police with rubber bullets during the dispersal of the demonstration. The eleventh applicant was allegedly beaten by the police. As a resu …