On February 2 and 3, Public Defender’s representatives visited 25 persons detained on administrative charges during a protest rally in Tbilisi, in the temporary detention centers of Tbilisi and Dusheti, and at the Ingorokva University Clinic. Such a statement was released by the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Representatives also visited Nikoloz Kokaia, the cameraman of TV Pirveli, at the VivaMedi clinic.

It is alarming that almost all the detainees, namely 22 persons, indicate ill-treatment by law enforcement officers. 9 detainees noted that they were ill-treated both during their arrest and after they were put in a minibus, where they were deliberately physically abused.

11 of the detainees had visible injuries, mainly to the face. It is particularly worrying that the hospitalized people had symptoms typical of a concussion - nausea and headache. One of the detainees had an injury to the eye socket. At the time of the interview with the Public Defender’s representative, his eye was being treated and bandaged.

According to the detainees, unfortunately, their detention was carried out indiscriminately, despite the fact that, according to some of them, they were not even on the roadway, but on the sidewalk, when they were arrested.

The Public Defender’s Office has already applied to the Special Investigation Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs for ensuring appropriate legal response to the cases of ill-treatment and other violations of the law. The Public Defender’s Office will continue to monitor the ongoing legal proceedings”, - reads the statement.