Tbilisi City Court Judge Lela Tsagareishvili released Guram Adamia from administrative responsibility and issued him a verbal warning. The Ministry of Internal Affairs contested Adamia's charges of petty hooliganism and disobedience to a lawful request by a policeman.
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On May 13, Guram Adamia was forcefully arrested near the Parliament. Policemen struck him on the head. Adamia's health deteriorated while in pre-trial detention, prompting his transfer to the hospital.
"After today's proceedings, on the one hand, it's good that they only gave me a verbal warning, but on the other hand, I don't understand why I'm here at all. There was no evidence against me," said Adamia.
As his lawyer, Dimitri Nozadze says, the court's decision will be appealed.
"The case relied solely on the testimony of two policemen, which contradicted each other. They claimed Guram committed a crime on Chichinadze Street, where they noticed him and instructed his arrest. However, he was apprehended on Zubalashvili Street, and the gates of the parliament, pointed to by the officers in the protocol, were not visible at all. It is regrettable that the administrative proceedings were not halted under both charges. While the judge opted for a verbal warning, it still constitutes a form of administrative penalty," stated the lawyer.
Based on the Code of Administrative Offenses, it is possible to exempt a person from administrative responsibility and issue a verbal warning in cases of minor offenses.
More than 200 people were arrested under administrative and criminal law during protests against Russia's Law on so-called Foreign Agents. Many of them have reported incidents of excessive force, mistreatment, and physical retaliation by the police. During the protests, members of various units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs allegedly assaulted opposition politicians and activists including Aleko Elisashvili, Levan Khabeishvili, and Davit Katsarava. The Special Investigation Service stated that they have received a total of 138 reports concerning possible illegal actions by law enforcement officers. The agency has initiated an investigation, but as of now, no police officer has been charged.
