Statement of Human Rights Center Concerning the Judgment into the Case of Physical Assault on Lawyer Giorgi Mdinaradze

Today, the Tbilisi City Court passed verdict into the case of physical assault on the lawyer Giorgi Mdinaradze and imposed only the fine of GEL 10 000 on the accused Lasha Kvirkvaia. 

The Court found the former head of the Vake-Saburtalo district police unit guilty only in the abuse of power and acquitted him in the charge about violence.

Human Rights Center is alarmed with the decision of the Judge Lili Mskhiladze of the Tbilisi City Court, who in fact justified the violence against the advocate in the police office and encouraged the police officers to continue violence. 

The judge did not consider the statement of Giorgi Mdinaradze, who claimed that Lasha Kvirkvaia personally participated in his beating and inhuman treatment and it was verified by the expertise conclusion. Just the opposite, the judge trusted the fake testimonies of the police officers at the trial, where they tried to protect Lasha Kvirkvaia from criminal liability.

Former head of the Vake-Saburtalo police office # 5 Lasha Kvirkvaia was arrested for the abuse of professional power in November 2015. On December 29, 2015 the court released him under the bail of GEL 10 000. Based on the today’s verdict, the Tbilisi City Court ordered the payment of the same 10 000 GEL as a preventive measure. 

Human Rights Center