Police from Zugdidi Beat Sixty-Four-Year-Old Woman

Nana Pazhava,Zugdidi

Officers of the Zugdidi Department of the Interior Ministry beat Turfa Gvalia when she tried to find out why her son was detained. The police arrested the woman on a charge of hooliganism after she quarreled with them.  According to the Zugdidi District Court’s decision Turfa Gvalia and her son were released from the court room on the same day on April 13 and administratively fined, Now Turfa Gvalia demands damages and that a medical examination be made of her state of health that as a direct result of the beating, and that a criminal investigation be launched against the responsible policemen. She wants them to be held fully accountable under the law.  Otherwise she intends to start a hunger-strike in front of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office and to renounce Georgian citizenship.

The incident transpired in the centre of Zugdidi on Gamsakhurdia Ave and is related to police arrested Gocha Bukia while he was visiting a photo-studio.

Turfa Gvalia: “both of sons and I were in the “Fuji film” office. We intended to go to the grave of my husband who had died sixteen years ago. Two young men entered, grabbed Gocha and dragged him out of the office. They pulled him up to the residential building and I did not know who they were. We were asking who they were but never said. Gocha was also asking: “Who are you, what do you want?” We soon realized that they were police officers but this was only after my son was pushed into their car. They claimed that they wanted to carry out drug testing on him.

According to Turfa Gvalia’s story the argument with police officers followed the detention of her son. After the woman verbally scolded the police at the station she was kicked out of the police station.

Turfa Gvalia: “They were beating me all the way to the door; they were kicking me and nearly tore off my hands. I was reproached and thrown out into the street. I tried to call my relatives when the police stated with another attack and then dragged me inside the station. I had nearly fainted and said I was hypertonic and might even start to bleed internally. My request of medical assistance was refused …they refused to bring doctor into consideration and I was only told that I was under arrest.

The detainee was not allowed to call her family members. Turfa Gvalia was also denied the able to access a public attorney. Five hours later she was taken to the Zugdidi District Court.

The court imposed Turfa Gvalia with the fine of 100 GEL for petty hooliganism and set her free from the court room.

Turfa Gvalia: “They accused me of using fowl language in front of the police station and disturbing the peace.  They also charged me for disobeying the legal order of the police officers to stop engaging in hooliganism; can you imagine more cynic treatment and the impact on my reputation? This court could not pass different verdict under the circumstances.”

Judge Jeiran Morgoshia made similar decision on Gocha Bukia who was released from the court room one hour after his mother.

Turfa Gvalia petitioned to the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Regional Prosecutor’s Office and requested medical examiners to estimate just how serious were her injuries. She is now demanding that a criminal case be opened against the polic who verbally and physically assaulted her.

Turfa Gvalia: “I have marks of policemen’s harassment on my right arm, I have bruises. I think law enforcers provoked me and my sons intentionally. They will likely do the same thing in the future.  My son has been tested for drug use fifty times in the last year.  They have never found him to be under the influence. To continue to demand him to take a drug test over and over again constitutes a form of persecution.”

Unless the Regional Prosecutor’s Office satisfies the requests of the damaged woman Turfa Gvalia intends to start a hunger-strike in front of the building of the Prosecutor’s Office. She does not exclude the possibility that her entire family renounces Georgian citizenship and seek the citizenship and protection of a foreign country.

The Human Rights Centre calls upon the corresponding bodies to launch criminal case and start preliminary investigation on the incident, to carry out medical expertise.