Lawyer Lasha Tkesheladze says significantly more police officers participated in the physical assault against Papuna Lotsulashvili than those who have currently been detained.
The lawyer stated that the arrest of six law enforcement officers is insufficient. He also called for the reclassification of the charges, arguing that the investigation should proceed under torture-related provisions.
“This is not the article under which these individuals should have been charged. The qualification must be changed, and charges should be brought under the article concerning torture, because Papuna was beaten and tortured in three separate episodes. He sustained physical injuries, including a broken rib and multiple other injuries. We demand that the investigation against Papuna be terminated, because he is the victim and a survivor of torture. As for those detained, up to 10 individuals were involved in the violence. Punishing six people is not enough, because, on the one hand, the legal qualification is incorrect, and on the other hand, not all responsible individuals have been held accountable,” Tkesheladze said.
For reference, in Gori’s so-called Kombinati settlement, law enforcement officers physically assaulted two individuals — Papuna Lotsulashvili and his friend.
In connection with the incident, six law enforcement officers have been detained. They are charged under Subparagraph “b” of Part 3 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns abuse of official authority committed with violence. The offence carries a prison sentence of between five and eight years.
At the same time, an investigation has also been launched against Papuna Lotsulashvili under Article 353 of the Criminal Code, which concerns violence against a police officer.
Additionally, the Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the alleged violent abuse of authority by police officers under Subparagraph “b” of Part 3 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code.
