Lawyer: Several individuals detained on Tvalchrelidze Street were physically assaulted by law enforcement officers, and one of the boys was being called “princess” - Some of the detainees have been transferred to the Mtskheta detention facility, while others were taken to Kakheti
The civil activists who were detained by police on Tvalchrelidze Street were physically assaulted by law enforcement officers. One of the detained boys was mockingly called “Come here, princess, we have to arrest you,” – lawyer Lasha Tkesheladze told InterpressNews.
According to the lawyer, the police detained a total of 17 people, some of whom have been transferred to detention facilities in Mtskheta and others to Kakheti. He noted that they are being charged under Article 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code, which refers to disobedience to a lawful order of the police.
"So far, I am not aware of anyone being released. I visited some of the detainees at the Mtskheta detention facility, and they told me that police officers used physical force against them. One of them said that while being put into a car, an officer slapped him in the face and shoved him inside. He showed signs of physical abuse. Another boy was mockingly called ‘princess’ – ‘Come here, princess, we need to arrest you,’ ‘Take the princess away.’ It was clearly meant to humiliate him in front of others.”
“Another detainee was also physically assaulted – dragged by his hair toward the car, punched in the ribs while being led away. He was taken to the Ministry of Internal Affairs building, where he began to feel unwell, and an ambulance was called. He was found to have multiple injuries and health issues, but despite this, he was not taken to the hospital by emergency services and remains in the detention facility,” – said Lasha Tkesheladze.
For context, eviction of residents from an apartment building on Tvalchrelidze Street in Tbilisi began yesterday. Police and National Bureau of Enforcement representatives were mobilized at the scene. The presence of patrol police in the morning led to protests from residents, and several verbal confrontations occurred. According to the residents, the eviction is being carried out based on a private owner’s claim.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that 17 people were detained at the site throughout the day.
