Due to a verbal confrontation, six police officers physically assaulted two citizens, with one victim being particularly severely affected — one officer allegedly dragged the victim by the foot… “What risk does not exist, colleagues, given their official status and the nature of the potential punishment?” said Judge Germane Dadeshkeliani of the Gori District Court during the hearing.

He made the statement after all six accused police officers were ordered to be placed in pretrial detention.

According to the judge, the prosecution’s motion was well-founded.

“There were no other witnesses — the witnesses are police officers… The prosecution argues there is also a risk of coordinated testimonies.

When we talk about the risk of committing a new crime, the law does not specify the same exact crime. Influencing witnesses is also a form of new crime.

They dragged [Papuna Lotsulashvili] across dirt ground — what injuries are involved, we do not yet know, no data has been submitted. What risk does not exist, colleagues, given what is written in the law and considering their official position and the nature of the possible sentence?

We are talking about age — he is 19 years old — but he is a police officer. Their duty was, I am not speaking in abstract terms, but simply that a person should not be beaten.

The prosecution’s motion is unquestionably justified.

Given the imperative requirements, only detention is possible for all six defendants,” Dadeshkeliani stated.