According to Nodar Tsintsadze, the lawyer of police officer Alexi Badalovi, who is accused of violence against Papuna Lotsulashvili and Lasha Abisonashvili, a decision on appealing the court’s ruling will be made after the defense reviews the reasoning of the judgment.

The lawyer stated that they cannot change the court’s decision and can only appeal it.

“The court granted the prosecution’s motion and imposed pretrial detention on all defendants. The court provided some explanation in the courtroom, but the written reasoning is more important. After reviewing it, we will decide whether to appeal. Of course, we cannot change the court’s decision — we can only appeal it,” Tsintsadze said.

When asked whether his client admits guilt, the lawyer said that he does not.

Responding to a question about his client’s testimony, Tsintsadze stated that Badalovi maintains he went to the scene while performing his official duties.

“During the investigation stage, he stated that he was performing official duties with his unit. He was called by the criminal police to assist in the detention of a suspected offender. He went to the scene, and in the video footage you can also see him handing handcuffs to one of the criminal police officers. This means he went there in the course of his duties. What circumstances existed and how events unfolded before his arrival, he naturally did not know and no one explained it to him,” the lawyer said.

In response to the prosecutor’s claim that four out of six police officers are not providing full information to the investigation, the lawyer said he finds it more important that the victim has not yet been questioned.

When journalists clarified that the victim is currently in a clinic, the lawyer responded: “I have presented my view; we are not arguing. I am talking about facts — the gentleman has not been questioned.”

Asked whether video footage from the scene is sufficient evidence, Tsintsadze said it is not.

“It is not sufficient evidence. We will discuss this further — it would take us too far now.”

The lawyer also said the defense will request an expert examination of the video material.

“It is necessary to appoint a video expert examination, where questions must be answered such as which person performs what action at what exact minute and second, etc.,” he said.

For reference, six police officers — Alexi Badalovi, Beso Malatsidze, Giorgi Tskrialashvili, Saba Tsavelidze, Ivane Misireli, and Vladimir Goderdzishvili — have been placed in pretrial detention in connection with the alleged violence against Papuna Lotsulashvili and Lasha Abisonashvili.

In Gori, in the so-called “Kombinati” settlement, law enforcement officers physically assaulted two individuals — Papuna Lotsulashvili and his friend.

Six officers have been arrested. They are charged under Article 333, Part 3, Subparagraph “b” of the Criminal Code, which concerns abuse of official authority committed with violence and carries a penalty of 5 to 8 years in prison.

At the same time, an investigation has also been launched against Papuna Lotsulashvili under Article 353 of the Criminal Code, which concerns violence against a police officer.