The Special Investigation Service received information about 319 individuals who were either victims of police violence during the November-December protests in Tbilisi or were obstructed in their journalistic activities.
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The investigation is being conducted under Article 333, Part 3, Sub-Clause B, and Article 154, Part 2 of the Criminal Code, which address the abuse of official authority by police officers and the use of official status to unlawfully obstruct the professional activities of journalists.
"The office has received notifications through the hotline, as well as from the Public Defender's Office, the media ombudsman, and temporary placement isolators, regarding violations of the rights of 319 individuals, including both protesters and media representatives.
The service will continue to receive notifications, providing a prompt legal response to each report by utilizing its resources to the fullest extent," stated the Special Investigation Service.
According to the agency, since the beginning of the investigation, 140 individuals, including five journalists, have been interviewed in investigative facilities, temporary placement isolators, and medical clinics, while 42 citizens have undergone medical examinations.
"In order to gather evidence, the scene of the incident has been inspected at multiple locations, during which surveillance cameras relevant to the investigation were identified. The review and analysis of hundreds of hours of television program recordings available in the public internet space are ongoing.
The process of retrieving video footage from private and public facilities located at the scene has commenced, and video materials are also being requested from various television companies.
The identities of the emergency medical aid personnel who provided assistance to injured individuals at the rally have been requested from the Emergency Situations Coordination and Emergency Aid Center (LSI). Additionally, clinics have been asked to provide medical documentation for individuals who received outpatient or inpatient care after sustaining injuries during the November-December 2024 protests.
To facilitate the questioning of law enforcement officers, administrative detention protocols and medical documentation are being collected from the Department of Temporary Placement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The service ensures that all individuals who report violations of their rights by law enforcement officers, as well as their legal representatives, are given access to the criminal case files and are able to review the materials," stated the Special Investigation Service.
Protests have been ongoing on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi since November 28. Citizens are demonstrating against the decision of Georgian Dream to suspend Georgia's European integration process. Within a week, the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested over 300 rally participants, most of whom were severely beaten by police forces.
