On November 4, 2016, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia with a proposal to launch an immediate investigation of the alleged ill-treatment of defendant Sh.K. by financial police officers.

On November 3, 2016, convict Sh.K., placed at the New Vision University Hospital, told the authorized representative of the Public Defender that he entered the Populi shop located near his house on October 31, 2016, and asked a question about the price of a certain product to the seller, which caused dissatisfaction of two persons who were waiting for their turn. According to Sh.K., the persons roughly told him that even though they were in plain clothes, they were police officers. The unknown persons verbally and physically abused Sh.K., as a result of which, he lost consciousness.

* After contacting the lawyer of the defendant, it was established that the unknown persons were financial police officers – M.M. and G.D.

During the visit of the authorized representative of the Public Defender to the hospital, Sh.K. had multiple body injuries: scab-covered excoriation on the right side of the neck, hematomas on the left side of both lower eyelids and reddish-purple bruise on the nose.

The multiple body injuries are confirmed in the documentation obtained from Tbilisi‘s temporary detention center as well. It is noteworthy that the defendant was rendered emergency medical assistance four times in the temporary detention center; it also became necessary to call an ambulance, after which he was taken to the New Vision University Hospital, where he underwent surgery.

The Public Defender considers that an investigation of the alleged ill-treatment by law enforcement officers should be immediately launched and carried out by the Chief Prosecutor's Office. Timely forensic examination is necessary to establish the degree, nature, age, origin and development of the defendant’s injuries. In addition, video recording should be seized from the surveillance camera installed in the nearby area in order to ensure thorough investigation of the case.