We are here for you: PEN Ukraine statement in support of the people of Georgia

We, Ukrainian writers, translators, journalists, human rights defenders, scholars, publishers, artists, express our solidarity with Georgian colleagues and the whole Georgian society in their struggle for freedom and European future.

We are amazed by the bravery of Georgian people who are protesting against the authorities’ decision to suspend the European integration of the country and establish a pro-Russian dictatorship in Georgia. At the same time, we feel pain and concern while reading the news about colleagues who were persecuted or arrested.

Historical events are never to be compared. The story of each nation’s struggle for its independence is unique. These days, however, it’s important for us to say that, after having made all the way through Ukrainian revolutions and still fighting for our future in Russia’s genocidal war against our people, we understand and support your struggle, and we believe that our beloved Georgia will be free from the Russian hydra that brings death and tyranny to all continents of the world.

We highly appreciate that Georgian brothers and sisters in arms are fighting for our freedom side by side with the Ukrainian military, and we know that today, our nations stand up for European values and struggle together for our countries’ righteous European and democratic way.

We shall remind you that on November 26, 2024, the Georgian Dream party, known for its pro-Russian draft laws and rhetorics, ‘won’ the parliamentary election. While observing the election process, the OSCE/ODIHR international mission recorded multiple violations. The European parliament neither recognized the validity of the election results and called for a repeat vote.

Two days after the declaration of the election result, prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the suspension of Georgia’s agreements with the European Union until the year 2028. This decision caused an uproar among citizens which grew into mass rallies in Tbilisi and the state’s biggest cities.

In Tbilisi, the security forces deployed forcible counteraction with beatings and the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and pepper sprays against peaceful protesters. Meanwhile, the authorities began to massively arrest demonstrators.

As of now, 320 cases of arrested citizens are known. The detainees were also brutally beaten. These include poets Zviad Ratiani and Tornike Chelidze, and translator Dato Haraishvili.

On December 2, Zviad Ratiani was sentenced to 8 days of administrative arrest. The day before, doctors found fractures of a molar tooth, nasal septum and bone, hematomas and bruises of varying degrees of severity on the poet’s head and body. Tornike Chelidze was also sentenced to 7 days in prison after having been severely beaten. Dato Haraishvili is still in hospital with a cerebral concussion, various bruises and fractures of eye socket and nasal bones.

The security forces also hinder the work of Georgian media, beat and arrest journalists. According to the data from the Mapping Media Freedom, 59 cases of violence against media workers who covered updates throughout the protests had been reported during the period from November 28 to December 2.

The exact figures of those injured and detained remain unknown.

We express our full solidarity with the people of Georgia in their courageous struggle for freedom and call for governments of other countries, the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international and human rights organizations to condemn Russian aggression in Georgia, seek fair and transparent elections in compliance with the Constitution and law of Georgia, release of all detained and bringing all the culprits for repressions against the Georgian people to justice.

Dear friends, we are here for you, and we believe in our common victory. Long live free Sakartvelo!