Investigation launched into dispersal of protest in Tbilisi

A criminal case has been instituted on abuse of power during the dispersal of the rally in front of the parliament building, and the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has promised to punish policemen even for minor offenses.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in Georgia, protests are being held daily starting from June 20. In the morning on June 21, law enforcers dispersed a protest action, and the Georgian Ministry for Public Health reported then about 240 hospitalized people.

The Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia reported the institution of the criminal case on the abuse of power by law enforcers at the protest action held at night on June 21. The maximum penalty provided for by the relevant article of the Georgian Criminal Code is eight years of imprisonment.

The Chief Prosecutor's Office addressed eyewitnesses with a request to provide investigators with photo and video records of the protest action. "It is extremely important to create a complete picture of what has happened, so that even the slightest offense will not remain without a response," emphasizes the Prosecutor's Office in its report (translated from Georgian by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent). The Prosecutor's Office promised to conduct the investigation as openly as possible and expressed its willingness to engage the Ombudsman of Georgia in the case.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 24, 2019 at 02:40 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.