Council of Europe head Alain Berset visits Georgia

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Switzerland's Alain Berset, is visiting Georgia, which has been rocked by a political crisis, from Wednesday. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The Council of Europe announced this on Tuesday evening. The aim of the visit is to "ensure the conditions for continued cooperation between the Council of Europe and Georgia in full compliance with the values and principles of the organisation", according to the Council's website. + Ex-Swiss minister Berset takes up top post at Council of Europe In view of a "political and social environment characterised by strong tensions", an "extreme polarisation of the political debate" and acts of violence in recent weeks, the Council of Europe called on the Georgian authorities to "refrain from the disproportionate use of force and to respect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and assembly". More than 400 arrests In Georgia, pro-European demonstrators have ...