Chief of Financial Police Accused of Beating Detainee

Chief of Financial Police Accused of Beating Detainee

Judge Zaza Ramishvili of the Gori Regional Court, sentenced Simon Shoshiashvili to two months preliminary detention for smuggling. Imprisoned Shoshiashvili accuses the Chief of the Financial Police, Zurab Arsoshvili, of physically assaulting him. 

On May 14th, Simon Shoshiashvili, from Tbilisi, was brought in front of the court under Article 200, Part 3, of the Criminal Code - for smuggling cigarettes without excise. Shoshiashvili, who faces possible imprisonment for 10 years, named the persons who physically abused him. Someone called Nodar Meladze was mentioned several times by Shoshiashvili in relation to the beating.

Giorgi Gotsiridze, the Head of the Freedom Institute - Gori Branch, got involved in the case. Gotsiridze met the detainee, spoke to him and took photos of the injuries on his body.

“I met Shoshishvili. At the moment I could not tell you if he was guilty of smuggling any cigarettes, but he has certainly been beaten black and blue. The fact that he has been beaten must be properly responded to. I will send the materials about the case to the Human Rights Department at the General Prosecutor’s Office”, stated Giorgi Gotsiridze.

Simon Shoshiashvili told Giorgi Gotsiridze all the details regarding his beating. He claimed that he was physically assaulted by the Chief of the Financial Police - Zurab Arsoshvili and Officer Nodar Meladze.

According to official information, Simon Shoshiashvili was driving from the Ossetian village of Orchosani. He was stopped in the village Nigoza. “They stopped me and searched the car but could find nothing. Nodar Meladze said that they were late. Afterwards, they took my car keys and drove away. I wondered where they were taking my car and called out to them to stop. On hearing me, the Chief of the Financial Police got out of the car and slapped me. I fell down and Nodar Meladze continued beating me. After a while they arrived at the place where some boxes of cigarettes were kept. They put the cigarettes in my vehicle themselves”, says Shoshiashvili.

Simon Shoshiashvili had been previously detained under the same Article 200 of the Criminal Code. He had been fined but did not pay the whole sum.

The Chief of the Financial Police, Zurab Arsoshvili, told journalists that the incident that Shoshiashvili spoke about never occurred. Staff of the Financial Police recalled that Shoshiashvili was injured when he fell over. Arsoshvili also stated that during the search they found a notebook with the telephone numbers of the Ossetians who supplied him with the cigarettes. The notebook is regarded as strong evidence of his crime.  

Saba Tsitsikashvili from Gori