On December 2nd, lawyers from the Legal Aid Network are issuing a statement according to which the majority of detained persons have been severely beaten – including after detention. The exact number of people detained at this time is unknown, however, according to the Wevote coalition, it is known that more than 200 people are detained at this time. Periodic beating of detainees described by lawyers involves signs of torture.
“According to Legal Aid Network lawyers, most of the people detained on December 2nd, 2024, have been severely beaten. Some of the detainees are currently placed in medical facilities. They have bruises all over their bodies, injuries in the facial area – in the form of nose and jaw fractures. All persons placed in the clinic have concussions, multiple bruises and hematomas, and have difficulty moving and speaking.
According to the detainees, violence by law enforcement occurred both during detention and after detention. At least six special forces officers beat them mercilessly in the minibus. Law enforcement officers took turns during the violence. They agreed with each other to break the detainees’ arms or legs. Their superior officer instructed them to strike in the liver and back of the head area. While beating them, they spat at the detainees, cursed at them, and shouted at them. The detainees recall the following phrases: “We’ll shove a baton up you’re a**”, “Did they like Gvaramia and Khazaradze?”, “You European, you like getting f***** in the a**, we’ll put a baton in your behind”.
After prolonged, continuous beating, there was blood standing in the minibus. During this process, one of the beaten person’s raincoat became filled with blood. The torture was supervised by a relatively elder man who monitored to ensure no one died during the beating. After getting off the minibus, before being taken to the patrol police car, they were led through a corridor of special forces, who individually kicked them in the face and back area.
The special forces officers removed the detainees’ shoes, and many of them were taken to medical facilities barefoot. The special forces officers also took away detainees’ mobile phones and asked them to unlock them.
We condemn this inhuman and degrading treatment and demand immediate investigation of each crime.”
Photo: Netgazeti
