On August 13, 21 and 26, 2020, members of the Special Preventive Group of the Public Defender's Office met with students and lawyers working in the field of criminal law in Telavi, Marneuli and Akhaltsikhe.

The meetings were a part of the visit scheduled under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The aim of the meetings was to get information about the situation and expose vicious practices.

The lawyers talked about the procedural violations relating to the detention of citizens by the law enforcement agencies, the vicious practice of using disproportionate force and the problem of timely access to the lawyer. The fact that police officers have no obligation to turn on body cameras during the arrest, as well as the lack of spaces for confidential conversation with detainees, was named as a problem.

Nika Kvaratskhelia, Head of the National Preventive Mechanism briefed the students on the mandate and role of the National Preventive Mechanism in an international context. He also spoke about the Public Defender’s recommendations to the state agencies.

Participants showed big interest and were actively involved in the meetings.