According to the Georgian Young Lawyers Association, 10 demonstrators who were detained under criminal law in the context of the protests reported incidents of ill-treatment during their detention, transportation, or in the detention center.
As GYLA explains, the following individuals reported such incidents: Saba Skhvitaridze, Revaz Kiknadze, Nikoloz Katsia, Anatoli Gigauri, Davit Khomeriki, Davit Lomidze, Temur Zasokashvili, Archil Museliantsi, Anastasia Zinovkina, and Mzia Amaglobeli.
“GYLA monitors cases of persons detained in the context of protests. One of the worrying circumstances in these cases is the cases of ill-treatment, which, by their nature, are tantamount to acts punishable by the Constitution of Georgia, international human rights treaties and criminal law.
Within the framework of GYLA’s monitoring of criminal cases, it was revealed that 10 demonstrators detained under criminal law reported facts of ill-treatment during their detention, transportation or in the department. In particular, such facts were pointed out by: Saba Skhvitaridze, Revaz Kiknadze, Nikoloz Katsia, Anatoli Gigauri, Davit Khomeriki, Davit Lomidze, Temur Zasokashvili, Archil Museliantsi, Anastasia Zinovkina, Mzia Amaglobeli.
Saba Svitaridze described in detail the experience of torture and inhuman treatment. According to Svitaridze, he was detained by the police on Zestaponi road, without being informed of the reasons for his detention or given the opportunity to contact a lawyer, and then handed over to an unknown operational group near Gori and taken to the police department in Digomi. In Digomi, on the fifth floor of the department building, he was physically assaulted and beaten by four masked men, and then on the eighth floor of the same building, a person wearing a patrol uniform and a mask abused him again, along with other individuals.
Revaz Kiknadze stated that he was forced to confess to the crime and blame others under psychological pressure and verbal abuse, after which the system would treat him loyally. The information provided to the court by the defendants, along with other experiences, reinforces the fact that the ill-treatment is systemic and widespread,” the released information states.
