GYLA stressed repeatedly the need of effective and impartial investigation about alleged offences   committed by law enforcement representatives. We are particularly interested in the cases, when individuals report about physical or psychological pressure implemented upon them, facts of putting drugs or arms, coercion to confess guilt that has not been committed and etc.

   

For the past two months 17 individuals have applied to GYLA. Eight of them allege about their physical and verbal abuse from the side of police, while 9 report about illegal conduct carried out by the penitentiary employees. GYLA’s lawyer met all of them individually, they have drafted the protocol of examination and information acquired by us was sent to the Prosecutor’s office. 

 

Regretfully, investigation on such category of information is ineffective. Shio Kobidze’s case is the clear example of ineffective investigation from the recent period. During three months he applied to different law-enforcement agencies and reported about torture from the side of the police, named the witness of the fact and demanded investigation. Though, even with assistance of a lawyer he failed to launch at least pro-forma investigation on the fact. Only in January 29, 2014 after the arranged press conferences in GYLA, it was possible to start an investigation on February 4. Though there are some questions about its effectiveness.

 

In view of above we would like to demand effective and impartial investigation on the following cases: 

 

 

In the course of communication with GYLA’s lawyers seven individuals (David Chkadua, Tamaz Tsintsadze, Vladimer Avsajanishvili, Besarion Sabashvili, Khvicha Deminashvili, M.B. and G.G) reported about facts of physical and verbal abused in #8 penitentiary from the side of penitentiary employees. Another person, Alexander Giorgidze alleged that administration of the same penitentiary threatened him. In addition, Otar Apridonidze, an inmate, also reported about verbal abuse and physical violence in Kutaisi #2 penitentiary. 

 

Tamaz Tsintsadze reports that on March 12, 2014 he had a toothache and asked the officer to arrange a meeting with a doctor. Nobody reacted on his demand and therefore he applied to the officer with a same request again. The officer abused him physically and he received a bruise in the area of eye. As he alleges cameras could have recorded the incident. 

 

Four inmates –Besarion Sabashvili, Khvicha Deminashvili, M.B. and Z.G. allege that on February 18, 2013 at about 22:00, deputy directors of #8 penitentiary and the head of the regime unit announced to them that the director wanted to meet with them. Inmates obeyed and followed them. When they entered the administrative building, some individuals in masks attacked and abused them verbally and physically. One of the prisoners reports: “When we entered the administrative building, they led us to the quarantine unit. Suddenly, the light turned off and some individuals in masks attacked us. They threw me on the floor, turned by arms and put cuffs. Then, they beat us with feet and baton, they used to beat in feet and mostly painful places, as well as in head. Afterwards they searched me, undressed and drudged me to the car in such a condition. They put me in a vehicle and took me to # 6 penitentiary.”

 

 

Seif Seifev, Teimuraz Gvaradze, Giorgi Kotuashvili, Mikheil Parulava, Mamuka Karelidze, Valerian Bezhikoshvili, Ramaz Nadiradze and Irakli Kelbakiani allege about physical and physiological violence implemented from the side of the police in different times.  Some of them report that as a result of physical and physiological pressure they had to confess the guilt that was not committed by them.

 

For example, in his statement of March 2014, S. Sepiev, who has been in penitentiary #8 reports that on August 11, 2013 he was summoned to Marneuli police department for examination. After appearing, he was taken in one of the room of the police building and police officers started to beat him. They attempted to extort from him confession about participation in attack. As he reports, three individuals participated in the incident and the prosecutor observed. Furthermore, S. Seifiev also notes that later he was moved to Rustavi, where physical and verbal abuse continued. They put on his head plastic parcel, and took it off only when he felt bad. The incident continued for 10-12 hours, with intervals that lasted for some minutes and sometimes for half of an hour.

 

In his February 19 statement given to GYLA V. Bezhoshvili reports that on January 28, 2014 he was detained near the territory of the hotel “Kolkheti”. Police officers offered him “cooperation” and submission of information about former prisoners, alternatively they promised money, though he refused. He also reports that physical and verbal abuse was implemented after this.

 

I.Kelbakiani explains that on March 15, 2014, in the corner of Arsen and Zaal Kikodze street, two policemen went from the police vehicle (KCK-636) and asked him to sit in the car. When he asked to explain the reason, police officers abused him verbally and made him sit in the police car with violence. As I. Kelbakiani reports, afterwards they put cuffs on his hands and continued to abuse him verbally and physically. Moreover they beat him with hands and iron baton in the area of head and a face, as well as in limbs. Kelbakiani also mentions that they attempted to imitate his suffocation. The protocol of observation filled in while bringing him to temporary detention isolator states that, “he has a scar on his throat, some scratches behind the left ear, on both sides, small bruise on the left knee and bruises on the right side”. The document issues about his health condition also mentions about observed injuries.

 

We demand conduct of effective and objective investigation on all similar facts and punishment of all offenders if the facts are confirmed.