Injured police officer in the case of 11 people detained during the protests: I was injured by the protesters, I didn't see a specific person – a stone hit me in the eye area, and today I can barely see from that eye

During the protest, objects started being thrown by the participants, and we were being hit with various items, bottles, and stones.

A stone hit me in the eye area, and I sustained an injury to my right eye. Today, I can barely see from that eye," said Detective Giorgi Zabakhidze during the trial of actor Andro Chichinadze, comedian Onise Tskhataradze, and 9 other individuals, who are accused of participating in group violence.

He is a victim in the case.

As Zabakhidze explained, he was performing his official duties during the protest on Rustaveli Avenue when he was injured by a thrown object. He mentioned that he did not see who specifically threw the object at him.

"On November 28, I was at the intersection of Rustaveli Avenue and Chichinadze Street. The protest was calm for about two hours, and then it became more aggressive. The protesters began throwing objects, bottles, and stones at us, and a stone hit me in the eye area. I was injured in my right eye, and emergency services took me to the hospital. Today, I can almost not see from that eye," the officer said.

According to him, doctors told him that his vision would not return.

"I had hoped that my vision would return in this eye, but unfortunately, in Turkey, they told me that my sight would not return," the officer said.

When asked by the prosecutor who specifically threw the stones, Zabakhidze responded that it was the demonstrators.

"The protesters started shooting, and various objects were thrown at us, and my injury came from the protesters... A lot of stones and objects were thrown at us. I was one of the first to be taken to the hospital, and then several other police officers were brought in, who reported that they had also been injured by the protesters," Zabakhidze said.

When asked who threw the object at him, the officer answered that he did not see a specific person.

The hearing is currently ongoing at the Tbilisi City Court.

During today’s hearing, the prosecution has presented 8 witnesses, 5 of whom are police officers with the status of victims in the case. According to the state prosecutor, 40 police officers were injured in this episode.

According to the defense lawyers, based on the interrogation records, the police officers cannot specify which of the defendants caused their injuries.

For reference, the case involving actor Andro Chichinadze, comedian Onise Tskhataradze, and 9 other individuals who were detained for participating in group violence during the protests near the parliament has been combined into one case.

The defendants – Andro Chichinadze, Onise Tskhataradze, Jano Archaiya, Ruslan Sivakov, Luka Jabuashvili, Guram Mirtskhulava, Valeri Tetrashvili, Giorgi Terishvili, Irakli Kerasvili, Revaz Kiknadze, and Sergey Kukharchuk – are charged under the second part of Article 225 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns participation in group violence.

This crime carries a penalty of 4 to 6 years of imprisonment.