Law Enforcer Detained for Abuse of Power at June 20-21 Rally

"One law enforcer has been detained on charges of abuse of power during the dispersal of the June 20-21 rally in front of the Parliament of Georgia", the representative of General Prosecutor’s Office stated at a special briefing held on July 15.

As the representative of the Prosecutor's Office said, according to the evidence revealed by the investigation, the employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs abused his power on June 21 morning on Rustaveli Avenue and physically assaulted a person detained for committing an administrative offense.

"The employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was arrested for abusing his power, under Article 333 § 3 (b) of the Criminal Code of Georgia,” the Prosecutor’s Office said.

As reported, the Prosecutor’s Office has applied to the court with a motion demanding imprisonment as a preventive measure against the detained law enforcer.

The riot police used rubber bullets and tear gas against the participants of the anti-occupation demonstration on the night of June 20, after some of the protestors tried to forcefully enter the Parliament building. Two nonviolent young demonstrators lost an eye to rubber bullets during the protests while a total of 240 people, including 80 police officers, were hospitalized. 

By Ana Dumbadze