Prosecutor's Office launches criminal prosecution against eight persons, including assistant to National Movement chairman, following ECHR decisions

The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia publishes official information on the initiation of criminal prosecution against eight persons, including the assistant to the chairman of the United National Movement, Lasha Tsanava.

In particular, according to the information disseminated by the Prosecutor's Office, after the decisions taken by the European Court of Human Rights, the Prosecutor's Office started criminal prosecution against eight people, including L.Ts, relating to the crackdown on the peaceful rally held in Tbilisi on June 15, 2009.

The investigation established that on June 15, 2009, during a peaceful protest in the vicinity of the administrative building of the main division of Tbilisi police, in which approximately 150 people participated, pre-mobilized employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, including Lasha Tsanava, surrounded the participants of the protest and inflicted physical injuries by using rubber batons and other equipment.

The Prosecutor's Office notes that, as of today, criminal prosecution has been initiated against 8 persons under subsection "b" of the third part of Article 333 of the Civil Code, which pertains to exceeding official authority by using violence, and under Article 341. In addition, the investigative body states that the investigation of the case continues in order to identify and expose other persons involved in the crime.

“We inform the public that the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia is systematically informing the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe about the progress and results of the investigation," reads the statement.