On 18 December 2019, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria met with State Inspector Londa Toloraia to get more information about the factual circumstances of the death of 15-year-old Luka Siradze.

The Public Defender considers that the incident is a systemic problem and that the investigative agency violated the Juvenile Justice Code while questioning the teenager. According to her, a hostile and not favorable environment was created for the deceased and other children at the police station; therefore, children could not feel safe, which could be considered as pressure on them.

The Public Defender also asked questions about whether the juveniles had voluntarrily arrived at the investigative agency as witnesses.

“The Public Defender is studying this case not only in the light of how law enforcement officials treated him, but in a complex context. We are interested in the preceding developments and how the school acted. The Office will assess why no appropriate steps were taken by the responsible authorities and individuals to provide psychosocial support to the child,” Nino Lomjaria said after the meeting.

The Public Defender was promised from the State Inspector that she would have access to the case materials. The Public Defender will take full advantage of this opportunity and will watch the ongoing investigation.

The Public Defender’s Office began to study the case and its causes as soon as she learned about the suicide attempt.