Georgia: Summary of Amnesty International's concerns

Since Georgia achieved its independence following the break-up of the Soviet Union, the country has moved gradually towards building democratic institutions and reforming its judicial and legal systems. It has become a party to a number of important international standards in the field of human rights, and in 1995 a new Constitution including basic rights and freedoms was adopted. This specified the creation of a Constitutional Court, and a new post of Public Defender to monitor the defence of individual rights and freedoms. Amnesty International welcomes these advances and acknowledges that they have been made against a background, especially in the early years of independence, of severe economic dislocation and armed hostilities in parts of the country. Amnesty International remains concerned, however, that some of the guarantees and laws adopted to protect human rights are not fully implemented or observed. Within its remit Amnesty International is particularly concerned about allegations of unfair trials in political cases; the continued use of torture and ill-treatment in detention; and the continued use of the death penalty. In addition Amnesty International is concerned about various aspects of the situation in the disputed region of Abkhazia, the majority of which currently lies outside the de facto control of the Georgian authorities. This document presents a summary of these concerns, and includes Amnesty International's recommendations.