Due to current crisis in Georgia the representatives of civil society organizations address political entities and international organizations with the following:

•  Every citizen has a right to express the protest peacefully. Ongoing protest rallies of Georgian citizens are legitimate and comply with democratic standards;
•  It is government's duty to protect citizens' rights, including the right to protest. It is a positive fact that the government is not repeating the mistakes of November 7, 2007;
• Nevertheless, the acts of violence against protesters occurred as soon as the protest rallies started; unidentified persons continue to attack and physically abuse participants of the rallies. Some details of these attacks, such as masked attackers equipped with rubber clubs and inactive behavior of the police raises the doubt that the violent acts are coordinated with the government. This doubt is further supported by the fact that despite numerous addresses, no suspect has been identified and the police is turning a blind eye to the violence against protesters. The only way for the government to disperse these doubts is to immediately investigate every single act of violence, punish responsible individuals and ensure the safety of the citizens. Otherwise, the authors of this statement reserve the right to impose the full responsibility for the violence on the government and to seek the assistance from the international organizations;
• For civil society organizations the negotiations are a reasonable solution to the crisis. Incompatible vision of negotiation agenda by the government and the opposition is leading political process into a deadlock. This is why negotiations should have a double agenda and issues raised by both sides should become a subject of discussion. The negotiation process should be transparent;
• Civil society organizations call for diplomatic corps and international organizations in Georgia to engage actively in the process of counteracting the violence and overcoming the crisis.

Signatories:

1. Association Studio Re - Mamuka Kuparadze
2. Club of Independent Experts - Soso Tsiskarishvili
3. Civil Integration Foundation - Zaur Khalilov
4. Caucasian Women Network - Nino Tsikhistavi
5. Constitutional Rights Protection Center - Koba Bochorishvili
6. European Integration Forum - Tamar Abashidze
7. Equality Institute - Murman Pataraia
8. Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights - Nana Kakabadze
9. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association - Tamar Khidasheli
10. Georgia-Estonia Relations Centre - Ramaz Bakhtadze
11. Human Rights Priority - Lia Mukhashavria
12. International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy - Eka Siradze
13. International Association of Military Journalists - Giorgi Tskhvitava
14. International Research Centre for Conflicts and Negotiations - Giorgi Khutsishvili
15. Open Society -Georgia Foundation - Ketevan Khutsishvili
16. Public Movement "Multinational Georgia" - Arnold Stepanian
17. Scientific-Educational Association "World Laboratory" - Mzia Sakvarelidze
18. Union XXI Century - Paata Gachechiladze

Gaga Nizharadze - Psychologist
Iago Kachkachishvili - Sociologist
Zviad Koridze - Journalist
Lasha Tughushi - Journalist