Giga Pharulava to Giorgi Gvarakidze: Only 5 individuals detained despite years of alleged systemic violence - is the Gori incident a minor misconduct or a reflection of systemic abuse?
During the parliamentary presentation of the Prosecutor’s Office 2025 annual report, “Gakharia for Georgia” MP Giga Pharulava questioned Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze regarding alleged systemic violence and accountability in high-profile cases.
Pharulava stated that in recent years there have been multiple reported cases of violence against peaceful protesters, citizens, journalists, detainees, and instances of alleged inhumane treatment and torture. He argued that, despite these allegations being reflected in reports by the Public Defender and various international assessments, only five individuals have been detained within two years.
He asked whether the Prosecutor General agrees with those assessments and whether he considers the situation to involve selective justice.
Pharulava also intended to ask about an incident in Gori, but was interrupted by the committee chair, Archil Gorduladze, who stated that questions about specific criminal cases are not permitted under parliamentary procedure.
Pharulava responded that he was not requesting disclosure of case details but rather an assessment of publicly known facts.
He then asked whether the Gori incident - where several police officers were allegedly involved in group violence against a citizen - should be considered a minor disciplinary violation or an indication of systemic abuse, and why responsibility of senior officials had not been addressed.
Gorduladze reiterated that such questions violate Article 168 of the parliamentary rules of procedure, which prohibits questions related to specific case circumstances.
Pharulava further referenced the June 20 events, but his question was again interrupted on procedural grounds. He also asked about findings related to former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, specifically whether the Prosecutor’s Office had established that he did not issue an order for the use of rubber bullets.
The committee chair again blocked the question, insisting that it concerned a specific case. Gorduladze instructed parliamentary staff to provide Pharulava with a printed copy of Article 168 of the Rules of Procedure, emphasizing that questions must comply with parliamentary regulations.
Following the exchange, Pharulava stated that he would continue raising the questions during a plenary session instead of the committee hearing.
