Amnesty International: Use of Water Cannons was Neither Proportionate nor Necessary

"The use of water cannons was neither proportionate nor necessary on 18 and 26 November," reads the statement of Amnesty International on the protests ongoing in Tbilisi.

The organization emphasizes that reports emerged that some of the protesters sustained injuries as a result of the use of water cannons. One person is reported to have sustained an eye injury, with several head bones fractured.

“The use of water cannons was neither proportionate nor necessary. They may only be used in those situations in which it is strictly necessary to contain or disperse individuals or a group participating in a public assembly and when the level of violence has reached such a degree that law enforcement officials cannot contain the threat by directly focusing on violent persons only. Any decision to use them must also take into account contextual factors, such as extremely cold weather, which may exacerbate the harm they may cause,” reads the statement.

By Ana Dumbadze