The Georgian Bar Association Has Been Informed That on April 16 of the Current Year, during a Protest Rally, Lawyers Representing Persons Detained Under Administrative Procedure Were Unable to Meet Some of Their Clients, and in Certain Cases, the Whereabouts of the Detainees Were Also Unknown.

The right to legal defence is guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia, while the Law on Lawyers provides that a lawyer “has the right to meet with a detained, arrested, or otherwise restricted person in private, at any time, without interference, control, or limitation…”

The same principles are reinforced by international mechanisms regulating the legal profession. In particular, according to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, “Governments shall ensure that all persons arrested or detained have prompt access to a lawyer.” Moreover, “All arrested, detained, or imprisoned persons shall be provided with adequate opportunities, time, and facilities to meet and communicate with their lawyers without delay, interception, or censorship, and in full confidentiality.”

In a democratic society, for the proper administration of justice, it is essential that law enforcement authorities respect the professional activities of lawyers and facilitate their unhindered access to clients.

For the Attention of Lawyers:

If any lawyer encounters difficulties in locating their client or meeting them in places of detention or other facilities restricting liberty, they may contact the hotline of the Georgian Bar Association for assistance at:
📞 511 457 558; 511 457 559