Sighnaghi district prosecutor’s office has dropped a criminal investigation over the torture of Gela Kutibashvili. Lia Khuroshvili, is a lawyer for the Human Rights Centre.
Reportedly, the incident happened on March 1, 2008 in the small town of Tsnori in Sighnaghi district. Otar Dighmelashvili, the deputy head of the Sighnaghi police department, dressed in civil form, asked Kutibashvili to stop the car. However, he did not recognize the police officer and failed to stop the car. Later, Dighmelashvili assaulted Gela Kutibashvili at a petrol station.
“Otar Dioghmelashvili, the deputy head of the police department, hit me my face against the car with. I broke four teeth as a result. Several other teeth cut into in my lips. My face is now swollen and my jaw was broken. When I was brought to the Judge Tamaz Jaliashvili I was bleeding and nobody even took the time to ask what happened with me. The judge believed the false testimonies of the police who claimed that I was injured as a result of falling down and sent me to prison for seven days for resisting arrest,” said Gela Kutibashvili.
A criminal case was launched regarding the incident. However, the investigation stated that Kutibashvili had injured himself and the investigation was dropped.
The victim and his attorneys intend to appeal against the court’s decision.
Gela Kutibashvili needs 21,207 GEL to pay for his medical treatment, as it is written in the documents provided by the medical institutions.
Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti