The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has won a case against the state at the European Court of Human Rights. The organization represented 26 citizens who were injured during the night of June 20–21, 2019. The applicants include both ordinary protesters and media representatives.

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights delivered its judgment today, December 11. On the main issues of the case torture and inhuman treatment, and violations of the freedoms of assembly and expression the judges reached a unanimous decision.

“According to the Grand Chamber’s judgment, violent actions by individual persons cannot render a demonstration violent as a whole and cannot deprive protesters of their right to freedom of assembly,” GYLA stated.

In addition, the Court rejected the Georgian government’s argument that domestic remedies had not been exhausted an argument used by “Georgian Dream” to claim that the case should not have been admissible before the international court.

Under the Strasbourg Court’s ruling, the state is obliged to pay compensation to the applicants in the following amounts:

For material damage:

  • David Khurdovanidze – €85,000
  • Mako Gomuri – €75,000
  • Giorgi Sulashvili – €75,000
  • Lekso Chankseliani – €85,000

For non-pecuniary (moral) damage:

  • David Khurdovanidze, Mako Gomuri, Giorgi Sulashvili, and Lekso Chankseliani – €30,000 each
  • Vakhtang Berikashvili – €21,000
  • Merab Tsaava and Beslan Kmuzovi – €20,000 each
  • Irakli Giorgadze and Irakli Chikviladze – €14,000 each
  • Zaza Svanidze, Tamar Bagashvili, Guram Muradov, and Nikoloz Sharvashidze – €10,000 each
  • Dimitri Pochkhidze and Irakli Khvadagiani – €9,000 each
  • David Shekiladze and Teimuraz Didberashvili – €7,000 each
  • Gvantsa Nemsadze, Ana Vakhtangadze, Nino Khozrevanidze, Guram Grigalashvili, Tornike Koshkadze, Giorgi Chumburidze, Gela Bochikashvili, Ekaterine Abashidze, and Giorgi Diasamidze – €5,000 each

The Strasbourg Court had previously delivered its first judgment on the June 20–21 case on May 7, 2024. At that time, the Court found a procedural violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of torture) and ordered the state to pay a total of €153,600 to the applicants. However, it did not find violations of the substantive aspects of Articles 3 (prohibition of torture), 10 (freedom of expression), and 11 (freedom of assembly and association). On August 1, GYLA requested that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber.

On June 20, 2019, Georgian authorities forcibly dispersed a protest against a speech by Russian State Duma MP Sergei Gavrilov in the Georgian Parliament.

During the dispersal, police used tear gas and rubber bullets, which, according to eyewitnesses, were fired directly at people. As a result, more than 240 individuals were injured, including 80 police officers. More than 30 media representatives were injured, and two citizens lost an eye.