Eka Kobesashvili: “The Prosecutor’s Office dragged out the case”

Lado Bitchashvili, Shida Kartli

On September 13, Levan Darbaidze, the judge of the Gori District Court, commenced hearing into the case of three accused police officers from Kaspi police department. Former law enforcement officers: Levan Baisonashvili, Amiran Kasroshvili and Mikheil Megriauli are accused in the abuse of power and beating of Zviad Peikrishvili. 

While talking to humanrights.ge Zviad Peikrishvili recalled that on April 4, 2015 the Kaspi district police officers took him away from the village Khandaki’s populated area and physically assaulted him. The precondition of the incident was insult of Peikrishvili’s wife by the police officer. Peikrishvili protested the policeman’s behavior. The protest was followed by abuse of power by policemen. In particular, Peikrishvili claimed, law enforcement officers beat him. The investigation of the case started one year later. Zviad Peikrishvili has victim status in the case. 

“The former police officers shall not remain unpunished. They morally and physically assaulted me”, - Zviad Peikrishvili declared. 

Eka Kobesashvili, the lawyer of Human Rights Center, defends the interests of the victim. 

On September 13, Levan Darbaidze, the judge of the Gori District Court, postponed the hearing because the prosecutor, Zurab Tsereteli, was not ready. The prosecutor declared, he mixed up the dates and that’s why he could not prepare and present the witness in the court. The accused people and their lawyers attended the trial. 

“The second year started since it happened; the prosecutor’s office dragged out the case. Unfortunately, today’s hearing was also postponed because of the prosecutor. The process is artificially extended and the former police officers are not punished, who beat Zviad Peikrishvili. The decision is not made either because of the court or the prosecutor’s office”, - Eka Kobesashvili, the lawyer of Human Rights Center, declared.

On September 29, the hearing of the case continued in the Gori District Court. Based on the prosecutor’s solicitation the Court interrogated Zviad Peikrishvili’s son and his friend. They saw beaten Zviad Peikrishvili in the village Zemo Khandaki. 

“When we arrived at home, my father’s dirty trousers were on the floor. He himself was lying on the bed, his face was read and his back and leg were aching. As I figured out later, policemen beat him”, - the victim’s son, Data Peikrishvili, declared. 

The accused officers’ lawyers asked only general questions to the witness. The lawyers and former police officers, who are not detained because of the plea bargain, refused to make additional comments.  

The judge Levan Darbaidze scheduled next hearing on October 25, where the evidences will be discussed.