Zviad Ratiani, Georgian poet, will take his case of a 2017 incident involving law enforcement in Tbilisi to the European Court of Human Rights.

The poet alleges officers of the police physically abused him during his arrest on December 23, 2017. he will be represented in Strasbourg by the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC).

According to the organization, the police’s release of the footage of the incident - presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs as evidence during proceedings in a Tbilisi court - was unlawful.

The footage - captured via personal smartphone of a law enforcement officer - as opposed to body camera as is mandated - showed Zviad Ratiani verbally abusing the police employees. EMC argued the video had been edited to only show his reaction to his treatment by the arresting officers prior to the start of the recording.