All six police officers charged in connection with the alleged assault of a citizen in Gori have been remanded in custody as a preventive measure.
The decision was announced by Gori District Court Judge Germane Dadeshkeliani, who ruled on the matter following an on-site deliberation.
The Prosecutor’s Office had requested pre-trial detention for all six officers, arguing that they did not cooperate with the investigation and instead obstructed the investigative process.
“This is not an ordinary case: the defendants are police officers. Besides those detained, other individuals also appear to be involved. They all know each other, they are colleagues, and efforts to identify the remaining individuals are ongoing,” the prosecutor told the court.
“Four of the six defendants acknowledge certain actions, though not accurately, according to the evidence obtained by the prosecution. Not only did they fail to cooperate, but had they cooperated, other individuals would have been identified sooner. Some have already been identified, others will be. There were attempts to mislead the investigation,” the prosecutor added.
The court granted the prosecution’s motion for detention. The accused officers — Vladimir Goderdzishvili, Vaniko Misireli, Giorgi (Zako) Tskrialashvili, Aleksi Badalov, Beso Malatsidze and Saba Tsavelidze — did not attend the hearing, at their own choice.
“It is their right. Since they do not wish to attend, we will proceed without their presence,” Judge Dadeshkeliani said before considering the preventive measure in absentia.
The officers, including one 19-year-old defendant, will be transferred from a temporary detention facility to a penitentiary institution.
Lawyer Ivane Samkharadze, representing Vladimir Goderdzishvili and Vaniko Misireli, said his clients admit guilt and requested their release on GEL 5,000 bail.
The lawyer for police officer Beso Malatsidze also opposed detention and requested bail, though he did not clarify whether his client admits the charges.
Aleksi Badalov’s lawyer, Lasha Tsintsadze, argued that prosecutors had failed to obtain any evidence against his client, saying Badalov is easily identifiable in the footage because he is “the only officer wearing a patrol uniform.” He requested that his client be released without a preventive measure.
Explaining the decision, Judge Dadeshkeliani said the charges and circumstances of the case justified detention.
“Six police officers physically assaulted two citizens, one of them particularly severely. One officer dragged the victim by their foot across the ground,” the judge said, adding that there was also a risk of coordination of testimonies among the accused.
The incident took place on May 27 in Gori, where police allegedly assaulted 28-year-old Papuna Lotsulashvili. Video footage of the incident, recorded by journalists, was later circulated publicly.
Lotsulashvili was initially detained, but following the release of footage allegedly showing police violence, prosecutors requested his release from detention. However, criminal proceedings against him continue under Article 353 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, concerning violence against a police officer, an offense punishable by house arrest, a fine, or between two and six years in prison.
Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said on May 28 that the citizen had been stopped for a police check and that the incident had been preceded by what he described as “aggressive behavior” and an “attack” by the citizen.
Meanwhile, prosecutors launched an investigation against the police officers under Article 333, Part 3(b) of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concerns violent abuse of official authority. The charge carries a prison sentence of between five and eight years.
The six officers were detained on May 28. Publicly released footage appears to show more than six officers participating in the alleged assault.
Lotsulashvili was examined at Vivamedi Clinic on May 27 and later left the facility. Reportedly, he suffered a broken rib. Late on May 29, he was again admitted to hospital, where doctors said his condition remained stable.
Public Defender Levan Ioseliani condemned all unlawful actions by police officers, “especially cases of ill-treatment.”
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze also commented on the incident, saying he had seen the footage and described it as “absolutely unacceptable,” adding that relevant state agencies “must and will respond appropriately.”
Related story: Lawyer: Man beaten by police in Gori taken to clinic after health condition worsens
