The Public Defender of Georgia visited detained protesters in the Digomi temporary detention center. According to the Public Defender, all but 2 of the 15 detainees claim to have been subjected to terrible physical pressure during arrest.

“They have visible injuries mainly on the face, although some say that they have injuries on other parts of the body as well. One of the detainees had his entire face covered in bruises.

What I saw is brutality that has no justification. I once again call on the police not to exceed their authority during detention. The law must be upheld by law enforcement officers first and foremost, and the perpetrator must be treated in accordance with the law. Everyone must be held accountable. Everyone who detains, everyone who conducts a police operation, and then everyone who investigates the conditions of detention.

I appeal to the Special Investigation Service to effectively investigate each case. The delay in investigating such cases has led to the fact that more and more people become victims of violence at protests every year. Any case that remains uninvestigated and not responded by the State in a timely and adequate manner increases the likelihood of its repetition. Therefore, this process must be stopped.

We will make all information public and send all the materials at our disposal to the Special Investigation Service. We will also monitor the progress of the investigation,” the Public Defender said in a conversation with the media.