Police Officers Accused of Physical Assault

Police Officers Accused of Physical Assault

Tbilisi, 08.05.06, ‘Media News’ – Representatives of the Public Defender in the Imereti region met Shalva Jorjoliani and his son David Jorjoliani in the regional hospital.

According to David Jorjoliani, on the 22nd April 2006, police officers took him and his brother Guram Jorjoliani to the police station. They were accused of robbery. They were examined in separate rooms. David Jorjoliani claims that a police officer put marijuana in his pocket, saying: “If we cannot arrest you for the robbery, you will be imprisoned for carrying drugs.” The police also used force on the two arrested brothers. Later, their father Shalva Jorjoliani was also brought to the police station. After a while, police officers said that Shalva Jorjoliani felt bad and three of them were then taken home by car.

David Jorjoliani says that their arrest was not officially registered at the police station. Police officers deny physical assaulting Shalva Jorjoliani.

Shalva Jorjoliani’s medical condition worsened that same evening and he was moved to the regional hospital. He has been receiving treatment at the hospital for more then two weeks now.

The General Prosecutor’s Regional Office in Kutaisi is investigating the case.