Public Defender Responds to Zugdidi Incident

www.ombudsman.ge 

The Public Defender of Georgia calls upon the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia to provide information to public regarding the investigation of assault on a patrol police officer in Zugdidi. 

On November 12, 2013 mass media sources announced that a patrol police officer was attacked in Zugdidi by unknown individuals. They cut his ear off, beat him, took off his police uniform and abandoned him at the spot. The incident took place on the territory adjacent to a college. 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has already announced that investigation has been initiated both on the crime committed against the patrol police officer and the crime he allegedly committed. According to the ministry a suspect has already been arrested. 

Public Defender regards that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia should investigate the given incident in a thorough, timely and effective manner. It is unacceptable that private individuals try to punish the perpetrator themselves as retaliation. Prevention of such cases is only possible through timely and effective investigation and subjecting the perpetrators to due punishment.