Geneva says first two hours of protest detention were lawful, but review continues

Geneva’s Department of Institutions and Digital Affairs has ruled that the first two hours of the police operation surrounding protesters after a No-G7 demonstration were lawful, while leaving the rest of the case unresolved.

The department’s initial conclusions concern the evening of June 14 at Perle du Lac, where police surrounded about 550 people following a major protest against the G7 meeting in Evian. The assessment covers only the administrative side of the operation.

The wider case involves Geneva’s Public Prosecutor’s Office, the police commander, the Department of Institutions and Digital Affairs, and the police oversight body. Most of the investigations are still underway. The canton has received 226 procedures related to police interventions, and several criminal complaints have been filed.

The department’s decision therefore addresses only the opening two hours of what it called a temporary detention operation. Authorities have yet to determine how the later stages should be assessed.