France Investigates Police Actions During 2023 Protests

The legal proceedings related to injuries sustained during a March 2023 protest against mega-reservoirs in Sainte-Soline, France, are currently stalled. The protest, which took place in western France, saw clashes between protestors and gendarmes.

Recent Video Evidence

Videos released by Mediapart and Libération on November 5, 2023, depicted gendarmes firing direct shots from grenade launchers during the protest. Following the release of this footage, the prosecutor’s office in Rennes announced two days later that several members of parliament had notified it of potential offenses. The office stated a decision regarding public prosecution would be made soon, acknowledging the complexity of the case and ongoing inquiries.

Concerns Regarding the Investigation

Nearly a month after the prosecutor’s announcement, a decision has not yet been made. Judith Allenbach, president of the Syndicat de la magistrature, a left-wing judges’ union in France, expressed concern over this silence. Allenbach stated that it is “quite astonishing” for the prosecutor to suggest the case’s complexity justifies not opening a judicial investigation, and that appointing an investigating judge is recommended in such situations. She further commented that this situation reflects a justice system failing to meet societal expectations.