Head of Gardabani Criminal Police, Giorgi Janikashvili: I was hit in the head by a stone thrown by one of the protesters, I lost consciousness and collapsed; I received 5 stitches — I didn’t see who threw it and won’t be able to identify anyone

“On one side stood the police, on the other side were the protest participants. A stone thrown by the protest participants hit me in the forehead area. If it had hit me in the back of the head, I would have assumed it was thrown by the police. The stone was thrown from the side of the protest participants, hitting me in the forehead, and I lost consciousness,” said Giorgi Janikashvili, head of the Gardabani Criminal Police, during the court hearing for those detained on charges of participating in group violence.

In this case, he has the status of a victim.

When asked whether he could identify who threw the stone, he responded negatively.

“If I specifically knew who threw it, they would have been identified and sitting in the dock,” the police officer stated.

He described the circumstances under which he was injured.

“I was instructed by the leadership that there was a protest on Rustaveli Avenue and assistance was needed. I went to Rustaveli with my colleagues, and we were stationed at the intersection of Rustaveli and April 9th Street, maintaining public order. People were gathered on Rustaveli; I can’t specify the exact number...

Later, a commotion arose, and it escalated into violent actions from their [the demonstrators’] side. Verbal insults, damage to objects, throwing of sticks and other items, including bottles, etc., directed at the police.

There were peaceful citizens as well as aggressive ones...

During this time, a stone thrown from the darkness hit me in the head area, causing an injury. It hit me with such force that I lost consciousness and fell. I don’t remember that period; I regained consciousness in the ambulance. I was taken to a clinic. Medical assistance was provided, a CT scan was conducted, a neurosurgeon examined me, and I received five stitches.

I didn’t see who threw the stone, and I won’t be able to identify anyone, but in general, I condemn violence,” the police officer stated.

For reference, the detained individuals—Andro Chichinadze, Onise Tskhadadze, Jano Archaia, Ruslan Sivakov, Luka Jabua, Guram Mirtskhalava, Valeri Tetrashvili, Giorgi Terishvili, Irakli Kerashvili, Revaz Kinadze, and Sergei Kukharchuk—have been charged under Article 225, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to participation in group violence.

This offense carries a penalty of imprisonment ranging from 4 to 6 years.