Sighnaghi Police Head Beat Citizen

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

The drunken head of Sighnaghi police Zaza Maziashvili and other police officials beat the citizen Soso Javakhishvili. The incident took place on June 18th at Sarajishvili St. in Sighnaghi. The law-enforcement officials detained beaten Soso Javakhishvili and imposed fine against him. Javakhishvili has injuries and is going through medical treatment at home.

According to the witnesses, Soso Javakhishvili was in the car at Sarajishvili St. “He came out of the car and was going to enter the store. At this time the policemen passed by and told him that he should not have stopped the car there. Soso answered that he was buying ice-cream in the store and was going to leave soon. They came out and started beating him. He was put on the ground and was kicked and beaten. Police officials were drunk. They used swear words during the beating. The head of the police was the most aggressive. Soso was put in the car after the beating and was taken away,” – noted the witnesses.

The lawyer Tengiz Bezhashvili from Sighnaghi region confirms that the head of Sighnaghi police took part in the incident. “I heard from the witnesses that the police head Zaza Maziashvili beat a completely innocent citizen. This person was beaten for no reason and then was imposed with fine,” – states Bezhashvili.

The Sighnaghi Regional Court imposed fine against the detainee.

Soso Javakhishvili does not comment on the issue. The Sighnaghi Police did not make comment either.

The Office of Prosecutor has not started the investigation on the corresponding case yet.

This is not the first case when the police officials severely beat citizens on the streets.

The officials of Sighnaghi police – Levan Kharatishvili and Otar Topchishvili severely beat 23-year old Guram Bagalashivili the resident of city of Tsnori. The incident took place on January 1st of 2010. Bagalishvili’s head was broken in three places by a gun. The attackers continued beating Bagalashvili until the witnesses called the family members. The sufferer has bruises in the area of right eye and head. There is all evidence that confirms that the police officials committed hooliganism and beating and abused their authority. However, they were not detained for several months. The plea-bargain agreement was signed with them ultimately.

In the past the deputy head of Sighnaghi police Otar Dighmelashvili beat Gela Kutibashvili so bad that his 12 teeth and jaw were broken. Despite numerous complaints of Kutibashvili, Dighmelashvili was promoted and transferred to Kakheti Regional Department of Ministry of Internal Affairs.