Transparency International Georgia will continue to seek justice at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for the violations committed by the country of Georgia against the American lawyer and dual U.S.-Georgian citizen, Ted Jonas.

Ted Jonas has been living in Tbilisi, Georgia for over 30 years. As a strong supporter of Georgia and its European future, he actively participates in peaceful civil protests against the anti-democratic and anti-Western actions of the ruling party, Georgian Dream.

The night of April 30 to May 1, 2024, was particularly infamous for the brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters by the riot police units led by the US- and UK-sanctioned Zviad Kharazishvili (nicknamed “Khareba”) and other police forces. On that night, dozens of protest participants, including Ted Jonas, were physically assaulted and unlawfully arrested under administrative procedures. During his arrest, 5–6 riot police officers used physical force—hands and feet—against him. He and 10 other unlawfully arrested individuals were held for about two hours in a police minibus in unbearable heat and lack of ventilation, where riot police periodically beat the detainees. Later, Ted Jonas, who had visible facial injuries, was transferred to the Tbilisi Police Department building. He was released early in the morning.

Despite the ongoing investigation into these acts of violence at the Special Investigation Service for over a year, no results have been achieved. The identities of the abusive officers have not been established, and naturally, no one has been held accountable.

Moreover, Ted Jonas, who was himself a victim of violence and unlawful detention, was found guilty by Tbilisi City Court Judge Lela Tsagareishvili on charges of “petty hooliganism” and “disobedience to a lawful order of a police officer,” and was fined 2,000 GEL. The judge based her decision solely on the testimony of false police witnesses, who were repeatedly exposed by the defense for openly and blatantly lying. The Tbilisi Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s ruling.

Since he was unable to find justice in Georgia, Ted Jonas is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights for violations by the Georgian authorities of his right to a fair trial and several other fundamental rights, including freedoms of assembly and expression, the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to an effective remedy. His rights will be defended by lawyers from Transparency International Georgia.