09.11.2007 - Source: World Organisation Against Torture

Tbilisi: The World Organisation against Torture (OMCT) strongly condemns the alleged excessive use of force by police when dispersing anti-government demonstrations on 7 November 2007 ("Excessive use of force against demonstrators by law enforcement officials") [ID 21627]

Document(s): Open document

08.11.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Tbilisi: Amnesty International is calling on the authorities to promptly open an investigation into allegations that special police forces used excessive force when dispersing anti government demonstrations in the capital ("Authorities must promptly investigate police actions in dispersing demonstrators [EUR 56/011/2007] ") [ID 21624]

Document(s): Open document

30.10.2007 - Source: Amnesty International

Dozens of suspects were shot dead by law enforcement officers; according to the report of the Ombudsman of Georgia covering the first half of 2006 the use of force by police resulted in the loss of lives of 33 persons in the process of arrest ("Briefing to the United Nations Human Rights Committee [EUR 56/008/2007]") [ID 21487]

"

Dozens of suspects were shot dead by law enforcement officers in recent years. Amnesty International is concerned about allegations that the officers may have used excessive force in at least some of these cases.[...]

According to the report of the Ombudsman of Georgia covering the first half of 2006, “the use of force by police resulted in the loss of lives of 33 persons in the process of arrest [from January 2005 to May 2006]”.

According to statistics provided to Amnesty International by the non-governmental Georgian Young Lawyers Association, at least 44 men were shot dead by police or prison officials from January 2005 to May 2006."

Document(s): Open document

21.07.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Tbilisi: Police force residents of building in capital's downtown to vacate their flats; incident triggers more allegations of abuse of property rights by authorities ("Dwellers Forced Out from Homes") [ID 20666]

Document(s): Open document

17.04.2007 - Source: Civil Georgia

Tbilisi: According to eyewitnesses Alexander Khositashvili died after being severely beaten by police officers ("Ombudsman Speaks of Use of Excessive Force by Police") [ID 19597]

Document(s): Open document

27.03.2007 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Public statements by the president and the interior minister encouraged police officers to use weapons; as a result police considered the use of excessive force as normal; deaths by such practice became common ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2007 (Events of 2006)") [ID 19525]

"Public statements by the president and the interior minister encouraging police officers to use weapons and to kill criminals on the spot resulted in a worrisome police practice, which considered the use of excessive force as normal; deaths by such practice became common. In one of his speeches, the interior minister stated: “I order the police officers, special forces and everybody who is responsible for protecting the citizens of Georgia to use weapons if you foresee a danger to our citizens or especially to a police officer; or if the unity of Georgian territory is at risk.”"

Document(s): Open document

13.02.2007 - Source: Council of Europe - European Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Excessive use of force and firearms is still common; torture and inhuman or degrading treatment are still practised by law-enforcement officials ("Second report on Georgia: Adopted on 30 June 2006 and made public on 13 February 2007 [CRI(2007)2]") [ID 19175]

"In its first report ECRI recommended that the Georgian authorities take action to improve the mechanisms for processing complaints of unlawful behaviour on the part of law-enforcement officials. In particular it recommended setting up an independent commission to investigate all allegations of human rights violations by law enforcement officials.  

Some illegal behaviour, such as excessive use of force and firearms — particularly during special operations — are still common. ECRI is concerned to hear from numerous sources, including the Georgian Ombudsman, that torture and inhuman or degrading treatment are still commonly practised by law-enforcement officials in Georgia."

Document(s): Open document

10.05.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Minister of Interior claims that police was in a battle against organised crime, that reforms eradicated torture of detainees and that 180 policemen arrested for taking bribes and human rights violations in past 18 months ("Merabishvili Denies Police Violence in Paper Article") [ID 15419]

Document(s): Open document

01.02.2006 - Source: Transparency International

Employees suspected of corruption were fired and salaries of remaining staff were increased as part of police reform; personnel was reduced to one third of its previous size; as a result, crime rates have doubled since 2003 and some claim new force lacks expertise of sacked officers ("Global Corruption Report 2006") [#44269],  [ID 5924]

"The most visible sign of Georgia’s progress this past year was the overhaul of the police patrol force, the largest of the interior ministry’s many units, in August 2004. […]
Police reform is no small feat in Georgia where law enforcement ranked as its most corrupt institution in TI’s Global Corruption Barometer 2004. Extortion flourished under the previous system in which a bloated force was forced to survive on wages as low as US $20 per month. Prior to reform, the ministry employed 54,000 personnel, or one officer per 89 civilians, a figure more reflective of a police state than a democracy. As MP Giga Bokeria said, ‘The state was giving the policemen torn uniforms and a gun, and telling them to shakedown drivers and bring a share to us.’
The ministry drastically cut personnel to one third of its previous size, reducing the officer:civilian ratio to 1:214; fired all employees suspected of corruption; and offered significant salary raises to the remaining staff. […] . In July 2004, it abolished four units with overlapping responsibilities – the transport police, traffic police, public order police and ecological police – and replaced them with police patrol units.
The civil registration unit was a source of insidious corruption in the regions. Many Georgians simply refused to register rather than pay the bribes that were demanded, with the result that the country’s demographic records remain incomplete, increasing the potential for tax evasion and for misrepresentation of the number of ethnic minorities living in the country. The government has coasted along on these reforms, holding them up as a tangible benefit of its reform-friendly environment, but the new force is not without problems. Crime rates have doubled since the 2003 revolution and, while the ministry claims this is the result of improved crime registration, others claim that the new force simply lacks the expertise of officers they have replaced."

Document(s): Open document

05.01.2006 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

Since January 2005 Ombudsman office conducted monitoring of police detention centres; although law violations by police are now rather of procedural nature, police still applies much violenc6 ("Implementation of Resolution 1415 (2005) on the honouring of obligations and commitments by Georgia [Doc. 10779]") [#41527],  [ID 5925]

"158. According to the Ombudsman Sozar Subari, his office is the only state institution enjoying the full confidence of the population. […]
159. Since January 2005 the office has been conducting comprehensive monitoring of police divisions and sub-divisions pre-trial detention centres in Tbilisi and in the country. The objective is to unveil cases of law violations by police, namely torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, illegal detention and procedural violations. The analysis so far has shown some positive evolution – while the main violations revealed at the beginning of the monitoring were torture and beatings, now they are more of a procedural nature (for instance, failure of explaining rights to detainees). Most of the injuries occur at the moment of detention, but their rate of occurrence is still high – 40% – which according to Mr Subari means that police still applies too much violence. He believes that most of the problems stem from insufficient resources, poor management and corruption. The office has regional branches and can also entrust NGOs to enter police stations at any moment."

Document(s): Open document

01.2006 - Source: Human Rights Center

While effectiveness of police activities is doubtful, their actions remain violent; arbitrary detentions, biased investigations and torture of detainees are still used to enforce law ("Next Stop – Belarus?; Human Rights Report 2005; Georgia") [#43007],  [ID 5926]

For documentation of individual cases please refer to the original document

"Those who are supposed to apply the law and protect us, sometimes end up becoming our worst nightmares. Arbitrary detentions, biased investigations, torture of detainees to coerce confessions and degrading treatment towards suspects are still methods used by law enforcement officers. Besides, while the overall effectiveness of police activities is under grave doubt, their actions of arrest are often unmotivatedly violent. A ‘macho’ culture and general perception of standing above the law are still quite prevalent with law enforcers. All of this is only reinforced by the overall low level of professionalism and knowledge of the law and human rights."

Document(s): Open document

22.12.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Continuing impunity of law enforcement officers blamed for torture and other police abuses ("Georgia: 'Culture Of Impunity' Blamed For Torture And Other Police Abuses") [#40940],  [ID 5927]

Document(s): Open document

13.12.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

According to rights group of "Georgian Young Lawyers Association" abuse of detainees on the rise in prisons and police stations ("Rights Group Sees Rise In Police Brutality In Georgia") [#40505],  [ID 5928]

Document(s): Open document

23.11.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

After Rose Revolution authorities went after criminals who escaped justice under former President Shevardnadze; in doing so, police resorted to planting evidence and beating suspects to obtain confessions ("Torture and ill-treatment Still a concern after the "Rose Revolution"") [#39567],  [ID 5929]

"Torture and ill-treatment continued to be a major concern of Amnesty International and other human rights organizations after the "Rose Revolution" in November 2003. The situation reportedly deteriorated in the months after the change of government. […] Sozar Subari, the Ombudsman of Georgia, told Amnesty International on 5 May 2005: "Immediately after the Revolution the new authorities decided that they wanted to go after criminals who escaped justice under Shevardnadze. Often the authorities had no evidence but everybody knew that these people were involved in corruption, so the police in many cases planted drugs or weapons and often beat them to extract confessions."
Corruption was long known to be rampant in Georgia and the new government declared the fight against it as one of its top priorities. In this context law enforcement agencies conducted several waves of arrests that were accompanied by allegations of torture and ill-treatment as well as procedural violations and fabrication of evidence. […] In the months following the "Rose Revolution" human rights groups documented scores of cases involving allegations of torture and ill-treatment and passed them on to the authorities urging them to open thorough and independent investigations into the allegations. However, there was little or no reaction from the authorities. […]"

Document(s): Open document

10.2005 - Source: UK Home Office

Reduction in corruption in 2004 increased public confidence in police; 13,000 officers were replaced ("Operation Guidance Note: Georgia") [#39388],  [ID 5930]

"3.9.5 Public confidence in the police increased during 2004 due to a reduction in corruption. During 2004, the police received their salaries more regularly. In July 2004, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) took steps to reduce police corruption by firing 13,000 officers, disbanding the corrupt traffic police force, and replacing them with a new patrol police unit consisting of newly hired officers with higher salaries. Only individuals under age 37 were allowed to apply for this new Patrol. Since then, the widespread solicitation of bribes from motorists decreased substantially."

Document(s): Open document

04.07.2005 - Source: UN Committee Against Torture

In 2002 there were 287 case files open regarding human rights violations by police officers ("Consideration of Reports submitted by States Parties under Article 19 of the Convention; Third periodic reports of States parties due in 2003; Addendum; Georgia [CAT/C/73/Add.1]") [#37524],  [ID 5931]

"Article 4 (Punishment for using torture)

29. According to information from the Georgian Procurator’s Office, from 2000 through the first half 2003, procuratorial bodies brought criminal proceedings in 55 cases involving the commission of various kinds of unlawful actions (24 in 2000-2001 and 31 in 2002 and the first half of 2003). Twenty of those cases involved official misconduct - overstepping or abuse of authority, unlawful detention, or unacceptable treatment of detainees. Nine police officers were placed in pre-trial detention as a preventive measure. In 2000 and 2001, the court handed down convictions in only two cases. In 2002, four criminal cases were referred to the court for examination on the merits, and another four cases are the subject of pre-trial investigations.

30. Both in the capital and in the regions, the Georgian Procurator’s Office has instituted hotlines whereby anyone may telephone a procurator at any time to report a violation of his or her rights. The Procurator’s Office pays special attention to cases involving the unlawful physical assault of detainees and remand prisoners by police officers, with a view to conducting a proper investigation and prosecuting the guilty parties. Moreover, during the reporting period the central administration of the Procurator’s Office has created a special human rights unit, which is responsible, inter alia, for responding immediately to reports from citizens and, within the scope of its competence, removing any violations found. […]

31. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has reported that, in 2002 a total of 287 case files involving internal investigations of unauthorized actions and human rights violations by police officers were sent to the Procurator’s Office. [...] In addition to criminal proceedings instituted in these cases, 92 police officers were dismissed from the force (including 12 senior officers at various levels). Seventy-four officers were relieved of their duties (including 33 senior officers at various levels). In all, 382 officers were disciplined [...]"

Document(s): State report
Concluding observations of 25 July 2006 [CAT/C/GEO/CO/3]

10.06.2005 - Source: Prima News

10 criminal cases against policemen for the use of torture instigated by General Procurator's Office in May; investigations are underway in 35 more cases ("Georgia prosecutor fights against torture") [#32885],  [ID 5932]

Document(s): Open document

25.05.2005 - Source: Amnesty International

Police used excessive force on several occasions; government allegedly encouraged use of force by police and prison personnel ("Annual Report 2005") [#32289],  [ID 5933]

"In January police used excessive force while breaking up an unauthorized demonstration that blocked a main road in the west of the country. Some 200 demonstrators were peacefully protesting against the detention of Zaza Ambroladze, a resident of Imereti region charged with illegal possession of firearms. Television news footage showed dozens of people being kicked and beaten by police, including with truncheons. The following day Imedi TV broadcast a statement by President Saakashvili applauding the police operation. He stated that anyone who “defends criminal bosses” would be “dealt a very hard blow in the teeth”."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

19.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Improvements in the field of law enforcement; new patrol police as part of fight against widespread bribery established; its members are newly recruited and considerably better paid ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2005 (Events of 2004)") [#32106],  [ID 5934]

"There were, however, also some improvements in the field of law enforcement. For example, one measure to fight against widespread bribery was to set up a new patrol police. Its members are newly recruited and considerably better paid – both facts which appear to be a good tactic to fight former systemic bribe taking by patrol police officers. The new forces are also controlled better than the old forces and disciplinary mechanisms have been established to deal with alleged cases of misconduct."

Document(s): Open document

19.05.2005 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Saakashvili stated in interview that he had advised the minister of justice to use force when fighting against criminality ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2005 (Events of 2004)") [#32106],  [ID 5935]

"Statements by the new President Mikhail Saakashvili pertaining to the fight against criminality and the use of force by law enforcement officials gave rise to concern about their effect on the conduct of police officers in terms of respect for human rights. On 12 January 2004, President Saakashvili stated on Rustavi 2 TV that he had advised the minister of justice to “use force when dealing with any attempt to stage prison riots, and to open fire, shoot to kill and destroy any criminal who attempts to cause turmoil.” He added: “We will not spare bullets against these people.” By the same token, when interviewed on the anti-crime operation by the police on 3 February, the president stated on the same TV channel, “If there is any resistance, [the police must] eliminate any such bandit on the spot, eliminate and exterminate them on the spot…” Such declarations from the highest official authority contributed to the climate of fear and violence in Georgia."

Document(s): Open document

17.03.2005 - Source: EurasiaNet

Shida Kartli: president sacked over 20 top police officials suspected of involvement in smuggling operations; 3 law-enforcement officials were arrested in connection with corruption scandal ("Georgian defense minister distances himself from corruption scandal") [#30690],  [ID 5936]

Document(s): Open document

14.03.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Secretary General

Reform of the police ("Compliance with commitments and obligations: the situation in Georgia [SG/Inf (2005) 6]") [#31811],  [ID 5946]

"The Georgian authorities give priority to radical reorganisation of the police forces (see also doc. GR-EDS(2004)32). Reform of the Patrol Police (Traffic Police) is an example of the new approach and has raised broad support within the Georgian population. In future, the Patrol Police will become municipal. General administrative reform of the police force has not yet been carried out. The CoE stands ready to provide expert assistance to the elaboration of the Law on Police.

38. At the same time, efforts are being made to eradicate corruption and illegal practices within the police staff. The General Inspection of the Ministry of Interior reported in September 2004 on the results of its four month working period: 68 cases of drug-dealing have been revealed and 15 persons, including high rank officers, were subsequently detained.

39. As regards human rights violations, the General Inspection has filed 36 criminal cases, arrested 26 alleged perpetrators and dismissed 82 persons. The case of G. Inasaridze’s suicide and that of K. Kvirikashvili’s death, while in detention (see previous Secretariat report, doc. SG/Inf(2004)19), were sent by the General Inspection to the Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office for legal review in August 2004. No results of any investigation have yet been made available.

40. Concerns remain with respect to certain police attitudes, notably disproportionate use of force. The civil activists have asked for an impartial investigation of the incident occurred when police dispersed a social protest rally on 1 July 2004, as well as for non-tolerance of such practices in the future. It is essential that such an impartial investigation takes place.

41. The Concept of Police Ethics needs to be developed. Training of policemen on new working methods should be organised and the CoE can play a more active role in this field. The seminars on human rights curricula and police ethics, organised by the CoE at the request of the Police Academy, should continue."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Ongoing culture of impunity remained a problem; according to NGOs many instances of abuse went unreported by victims due to fear of reprisals or lack of confidence in the system ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29503],  [ID 5937]

"An ongoing culture of impunity remained a problem. Despite this, some police officers were arrested or administratively disciplined in high-profile cases of physical abuse or deaths in custody. The MOJ maintained a system to provide for medical examinations of prisoners transferred from police stations to pretrial detention facilities in order to document injuries that may have occurred in police custody and to establish baseline medical condition information for each prisoner that could be used in cases of alleged prison abuse. Injuries consistent with abuse were documented and reported to the MOJ authorities, who in turn reported them to the MIA for investigation. The system functioned effectively.

In general, officers were held accountable for abuses only in extreme cases, and the Criminal Procedures Code limited a detainee's ability to substantiate claims of such abuses (see Section 1.e.). During the year, 179 criminal cases against MIA employees were opened by the Prosecutor General's Office. All of these cases were pending at year's end. Many observers claimed that prosecutors were frequently reluctant to open a criminal case against police or they closed a case for lack of evidence. Human rights NGOs also believed that many instances of abuse went unreported by victims due to fear of reprisals or lack of confidence in the system."

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Police frequently detained persons without warrants and often planted drugs or weapons in order to arrest individuals ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29503],  [ID 5938]

"Police frequently detained persons without warrants and often planted drugs or weapons in order to arrest individuals. Police frequently did not allow witnesses during searches in which they "found" drugs or weapons, and then forced individuals to sign witness statements. According to one NGO, approximately 80 percent of all detainees in pretrial detention were being held on charges of drug or illegal weapon possession."

Document(s): Open document

19.01.2005 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Report on measures taken so far by the government of Saakashvili to curb endemic corruption in state structures ("Georgia: Experiment On Averting Corruption Among State Officials") [#28417],  [ID 5939]

Document(s): Open document

05.01.2005 - Source: Civil Georgia

MP Bezhan Gunava announced that he is quitting ruling National Movement party, citing “intimidation by Financial Police, which according to him was extorting money from group of businessmen exporting various goods from Georgia ("MP Quits Ruling Party") [#43440],  [ID 5940]

Document(s): Open document

23.04.2004 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

Victims of police misconduct in 2003: torture and ill-treatment in police detention, illegal detention of individuals ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2004 (Events of 2003)") [#21453],  [ID 5941]

"Despite formal legislative improvements, however, reports of police ill-treatment continued. It was reported that in the first three months of 2003 alone, some 137 detainees with bodily injuries were taken from the Ministry of Interior’s temporary detention isolator to the penitentiary department.

• Kartlos Nakhalov was reportedly tortured with electric shocks in the Didube-Chgureti police department in early 2003. A medical doctor certified traces typical to electric shocks behind his ears.

• In another case, the head of the Expert Center of the Justice Ministry, Maia Nikoleishvili, applied on 5 March for the involvement of an expert to look into the case of a citizen who was beaten by the police. This person preferred not to give his identity for fear of retribution after being threatened with death if he filed a complaint about police brutality.

• The attorney of Gocha Bregadze and Revaz Purtskhvanidze, both of whom were arrested on 28 February, claimed that his clients were tortured with electric shocks at the police station of Kutasi. The local police denied the allegations.

• On 16 June, 38-year-old Merab Chukhasvili was allegedly tortured by police officers in the building of the Interior Ministry in Tbilisi to make him to confess to a kidnapping. Chukhasvili fainted during his trial and doctors said he required an urgent operation because electric shocks had damaged his internal organs.

The Prosecutor General, Nugzar Gabrichize, said that detainees frequently fell victim to police ill-treatment when being transported from police detention stations to prisons. He said that the Justice Ministry started to keep a record of such cases, but law enforcement agencies have failed to take any disciplinary measures. He also noted that there were 108 cases of illegal detention of individuals in 2002, officially on suspicion of drug consumption. Further investigations revealed that none of the detainees had been under the influence of drugs. According to Maia Nikoleishvili, head of the Expert Center of the Justice Ministry, “most policemen consider that crimes can be revealed only by means of violations, beatings, and electric shock methods of torture.”

The assistant public defender, Ramaz Ninua, noted that victims of police brutality often filed complaints of police abuse but later withdraw their statements, apparently after being threatened or offered bribes to remain silent."

Document(s): Open document
Open document

24.02.2004 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Report focused on religious intolerance, freedom of assembly and expression, torture in prisons and the situation of internally displaced, refugees and Meskhetian refugees ("Agenda for Reform: Human Rights Priorities after the Georgian Revolution") [#19671],  [ID 5942]

"Local human rights activists, lawyers, and representatives of the international community who spoke to Human Rights Watch fear that the urgent drive to fight corruption is already undermining this limited progress, and may also, in the long term, heighten public mistrust of law-enforcement bodies. The new fight against corruption has led to several high-profile arrests, including of former government members. President Saakashvili and other prominent officials have used forceful language, proclaiming the guilt and bad character of those arrested, and praising or justifying investigations, even when serious allegations of torture and procedural violations have been raised.9

In the context of Georgia's recent history of police abuse and lack of independent and fair courts, Human Rights Watch is concerned that these and other high-level statements on law enforcement encourage lower officials to violate basic rights. For example, in January then President-elect Mikheil Saakashvili stated:


I...have advised my colleague, Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili-I want criminals both inside and outside prisons to listen to this very carefully-to use force when dealing with any attempt to stage prison riots, and to open fire, shoot to kill and destroy any criminal who attempts to cause turmoil. We will not spare bullets against these people.10


And then in February, he said: "I gave an order to [the Interior Minister to] start this [anti-crime] operation and, if there is any resistance, to eliminate any such bandit on the spot, eliminate and exterminate them on the spot, and free the people from the reign of these bandits."11"

Document(s): Open document

20.02.2004 - Source: EurasiaNet

According to critics police violence and media intimidation on the rise despite Saakashvili's strong commitment to democratic standards ("Georgia: Critics Say Police Violence, Media Intimidation On The Rise") [#19612],  [ID 5944]

Document(s): Open document

10.2003 - Source: Human Rights Center

HRIDC: Fair Elections' Executive Director threatened and detained after having discovered the extortion of money from a taxi driver committed by a policeman ("Monthly Bulletin 10 (56), October 2003") [#17235],  [ID 5945]

"On 24th of October Fair Elections' Executive Director Zurab Tchiaberashvili was illegally de-tained by the police officer from the Traffic Police of Georgia, Tariel Janadze. Tchiaberashvili was detained after he had discovered the extortion of money from the taxi driver committed by policeman Elguja Samsonadze. Having witnessed this fact, Zurab Tchiaberashvili re-quested Elguja Samsonadze and Malkhaz Babiashvili to identify themselves. The officers re-sponded to this request with violence and verbal abuses. Samsonadze violently took away Tchiaberashvili's personal mobile phone. Regardless of the request the phone was not re-turned to the owner until Tchiaberashvili was brought to Matsminda -Krtsanisi District De-partment #1 of the Ministry of Interior of Georgia.

After having discovered that Tchiaberashvili was Fair Elections' Executive Director, the initia-tors of detainment did not register Tchiaberashvili as detainee and refused to commence the criminal case.

However Tchiaberashvili filed a complaint claiming that his rights were violated, he was threatened and illegally detained. The case was submitted to the General Inspection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for further investigation."

Document(s): Open document

14.08.2003 - Source: Human Rights Center

At least two members of the Kmara (Enough) youth movement were injured, as the police beat up the movement’s activists on August 6, 2003, which tried to hold a protest rally in front of the Energy Ministry ("Monthly Bulletin 6-7 (52-53), July 2003") [#15071],  [ID 5947]

"At least two members of the Kmara (Enough) youth movement were injured, as the police beat up the
movement’s activists on August 6, 2003, which tried to hold a protest rally in front of the Energy Ministry.
The peaceful demonstration, protesting against the entry of the Russian state-owned power giant Unified
Energy Systems (UES) in Georgia, was met with the police cordon near the Energy Ministry building and
prevented the protesters to rally in front of the Ministry.
Meanwhile, chief of the UES Anatoly Chubais held talks with the Georgian Energy Minister Davit
Mirtskhulava. After the talks Chubais met with the State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze. Kmara activists intended to hold a protest rally near the Tbilisi-Marriot Hotel, where Anatoly Chubais was going to hold a
press conference. (Civil Georgia)"

Document(s): Open document

08.2003 - Source: Human Rights Center

Police office detained for drug abuse; pistols without registration number found ("Monthly Bulletin No 8 (54), August 2003") [#15124],  [ID 5948]

"The deputy of the head of Gardabani district of Internal Affairs Department, Kakha Giorgobiani, living at Uznadze Street in Tbilisi, was detained in the capital on 2 August.

Giorgobianoi was under the influence of drugs with large quantities of heroin found on his person. During the search, three pistols were found in his flat, two of which did not have a registration number."

Document(s): Open document

22.07.2003 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Statements of interview partners with regard to irregularities as well as on corruption among Georgian police officers ("Reisebericht Georgien 18. - 25. Mai 2003") [#14436],  [ID 5949]

"Einer nicht namentlich genannten Quelle zufolge wäre der Transformationsprozess innerhalb
der Polizei noch lange nicht abgeschlossen. In vielen Bereichen herrsche noch immer die alte
Sowjetmentalität, viele Mitglieder der Sicherheitskräfte könne man auch als „politisch
ignorante Personen“ bezeichnen. Besonders bezeichnend sei der niedrige Bildungsgrad
georgischer Polizisten. Nach Angaben des Innenministeriums seien die Gehälter bei der
Polizei viel zu niedrig – ein Problem, das allerdings auch alle anderen Berufsgruppen, wie
ÄrztInnen, UniversitätsprofessorInnen oder JuristInnen betreffe. Insbesondere niederrangige
Polizeibeamte lebten nach Angaben einer nicht näher genannten NGO in Armut.
Wegen der Möglichkeit auf inoffiziellem Weg „Geld zu machen“, reize dennoch viele die
Arbeit bei der Polizei. Vor allem die Mitarbeiter der Verkehrspolizei würden sich nach
Ansicht einer namentlich nicht genannten Quelle besonders häufig Nebenverdienste auf
inoffiziellem Weg beschaffen. Als besonders lukrativ gelte unter den Verkehrspolizisten die
Bestechung der Fahrer der – allein in Tbilisi – etwa 6.000 registrierten Minibusse. Bei den
zahlreichen Verkehrskontrollen werden die Minibus-Fahrer vor die Entscheidung gestellt,
entweder 2 Lari zu zahlen oder eine teure technische Kontrolle ihres Fahrzeugs in Kauf zu
nehmen.
Sehr viel Wert lege man laut Innenministerium auf spezielle Trainingsmaßnahmen von
Mitgliedern der Sicherheitskräfte, da man sich der Probleme des Übergangs durchaus
bewusst sei. Das große Problem der Polizei heutzutage sei allerdings die mangelnde
technische Ausrüstung. So gebe es beispielsweise nicht genügend Transportmittel; auch die
Anschaffung neuer Uniformen sei aufgrund akuter Finanznot nicht erschwinglich.
Unregelmäßigkeiten und Gesetzeswidrigkeiten in der Polizeipraxis seien laut dem
Innenministerium ebenfalls auf die schlechte Finanzsituation der Polizei zurückzuführen. So
verfüge die Polizei aufgrund der akuten Budgetengpässe beispielsweise nicht über einen
geeigneten Fuhrpark. Das Fehlen geeigneter Transportfahrtzeuge, um einen
Untersuchungshäftling fristgerecht zum Gerichtsgebäude zu bringen, sei zum Beispiel fast
immer die Ursache dafür, dass die vorgeschriebene Höchstdauer der Untersuchungshaft von 72 Stunden überschritten werde. 15 Hätte man einmal die technischen Probleme gelöst, so
das Innenministerium, würden sich auch alle übrigen Schwierigkeiten bei der Polizei lösen.
Nach Angaben der UNAG gebe es zwar Pläne für eine umfassende Reform des gesamten
Polizeiapparates, diese seien allerdings noch nicht implementiert worden. Im
Ermittlungsverfahren, insbesondere bei Verhören, kämen nach wie vor Sowjet-Methoden zur
Anwendung. Folter und unmenschliche Behandlung seien im Polizeigewahrsam eher die Regel
als die Ausnahme, so dass von systematischen Menschenrechtsverletzungen gesprochen
werden könne. Die Erpressung von Geständnissen und größeren Geldbeträgen, nach deren
Bezahlung die Betroffenen hoffen dürfen, wieder auf freien Fuß gesetzt zu werden, zähle
ebenfalls zur polizeilichen Routine. Zum einen seien viele Polizisten noch in der Sowjet-Ära
ausgebildet worden, zum anderen kämen auch Neuzugänge nicht in den Genuss
menschenrechtlicher Schulungsmaßnahmen. Zwar hätten die Behörden auf besonders
schwere Folter-Fälle vereinzelt mit Entlassungen der Täter reagiert, allerdings hätten diese
ihren Dienst wenig später in anderen Abteilungen wieder angetreten.
Ein Beispiel für die fehlende Bereitschaft, dem Amtsmissbrauch in den Milizstationen
entschlossen entgegenzutreten, sehe die UNAG unter anderem in jenem Fall, in dem das
Unterschieben von Drogen und die anschließende Aufforderung, Schmiergeld zu bezahlen,
um nicht wegen eines Suchtmitteldelikts belangt zu werden, mit versteckter Kamera
aufgenommen worden sei. Im Strafverfahren gegen die beteiligten Polizisten seien
Freisprüche gefällt worden, weil das Gericht das vorgelegte Videoband nicht als
Beweismittel akzeptiert habe – mit der Begründung, es handele sich hierbei um Aufnahmen
mit einer versteckten Kamera.
Auch nach Angaben einer namentlich nicht genannten Quelle habe die Korruption, die sich
durch den ganzen Staatsapparat zöge, vor der Polizei nicht Halt gemacht. Vielerorts seien
die Verbindungen zu kriminellen Organisationen festzustellen. So wäre beispielsweise häufig
zu beobachten, dass Polizeibeamte – gegen entsprechende Bezahlung - Mitgliedern von
Mafiaorganisationen bei der Erpressung bestimmter Personen behilflich wären.
Grundsätzlich würde man alle Polizeibeamten, so ein Repräsentant des Innenministeriums,
die durch die Staatsanwaltschaft wegen Korruption vor Gericht gebracht worden seien,
ausnahmslos entlassen. Mit der Unterstützung von internationalen Organisationen würde sich die Situation in der
georgischen Polizei nach Aussagen der GesprächspartnerInnen der „Ehemalige politische
Gefangene für Menschenrechte“ schrittweise bessern."

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

US State Department: Incidents of police abuse increased following the 2000 presidential elections ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11848],  [ID 5950]

"The Constitution prohibits such practices; however, according to the U.N. Human Rights Committee (UNHRC), members of the security forces continued to torture, beat, and otherwise abuse prisoners and detainees, usually to extract money or confessions. International and domestic observers noted that incidents of police abuse increased following the 2000 presidential elections. Serious abuses and police misconduct, such as the fabrication or planting of evidence, remained problems. During the year, there were several cases of police officers brought to trial, dismissed, or demoted for abuses; however, impunity remained a problem. According to human rights observers, many police appeared to believe that they would not be held accountable for such actions."

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Corruption allegedly related to large number of police officers nationwide ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11848],  [ID 5951]

"Human rights observers expressed concern that corruption was related to the large number of police officers nationwide. According to the MOIA, there were 13,881 police officers in 2000; however, NGOs estimated there were closer to 35,000. The MOIA claims a figure of 29,500 officials, the number also cited by the Ministry of Finance, but insists that this includes various departments, such as fire and emergency units, which do not serve a policing function. The Government has not consistently paid the salaries of police officers; consequently police solicited bribes from the general population, particularly motorists, and also from suspects detained on suspicion of criminal activity"

Document(s): Open document

21.02.2003 - Source: Prima News

Minor in a clash between police and a group of youngsters in Tbilisi killed by policeman; officer confessed his guilt ("Georgian police officer kills minor") [#15880],  [ID 5952]

Document(s): Open document

02.2003 - Source: Human Rights Center

Prisoners allegedly beaten by police ("Monthly Bulletin 2 (48), February 2003") [#14570],  [ID 5954]

"Nineteen year old Merab Gelashvili states that he was beaten by the police of the Interior Ministry's fourth department of Vake-Saburtalo. While moving to the fifth jail of Tbilisi, the prisoner was examined by the doctor, revealing injuries to his back and ear.

Twenty-eight year old Avto Korolilidze-Tsiklauri was also injured by police. He was taken to the fifth jail from a temporary detention isolator on February 11. The injuries were to his forehead, eyes, nose and back. This information was delivered to the General Inspection Unit of the Interior Ministry by the administration of the fifth jail"

Document(s): Open document
Open document

05.03.2002 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

SFH: Corruption and bribery among members of the security forces ("Lageanalyse Februar 2002") [#8057],  [ID 5953]

"Die IGFM meldet immer wieder, dass die Verkehrspolizei ihr Gehalt mit regelmässiger Erpressung
der VerkehrsteilnehmerInnen "aufbessert". Das Geschäft blüht, da die Polizei
unter dem Schutz der Legitimation als offizielle Institution praktisch Straffreiheit geniesst."

Document(s): Open document

04.03.2002 - Source: US Department of State

US State Department: Despite an overall culture of impunity, some policemen were arrested or administratively disciplined in high-profile cases of physical abuse or deaths in custody ("Annual report 2001") [#5795],  [ID 5955]

"Police misconduct reportedly was worse outside Tbilisi, where awareness of laws and citizens' rights is less understood and human rights NGO's were less active. [...] Despite an overall culture of impunity, some policemen were arrested or administratively disciplined in high-profile cases of physical abuse or deaths in custody. The Ministry of Internal Affairs claimed that since 1997 they opened criminal cases against 388 officers, 129 of whom were arrested and 32 of whom were convicted for varying offenses. In addition the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOI) claims that 1,329 officers were discharged for disciplinary reasons. In the first 9 months of the year, 90 criminal cases were initiated against police employees, 41 were completed in the court system, of which 14 were closed procedurally. A total of 27 cases against 33 individuals ended in conviction and 36 investigations were ongoing on at year's end. Of the 58 police employees who were facing criminal prosecution at year's end, 6 were charged with illegal detention and searches, 12 with physical abuse and other violence, 7 with extortion and embezzlement, and 33 with malfeasance and other types of crimes. In general officers are held accountable for abuses only in extreme cases and changes to the Criminal Procedures Code have weakened a detainee's ability to substantiate claims of such abuses (see Section 1.e.). Many observers claimed that prosecutors frequently are reluctant to open a criminal case against the police or they close a case for lack of evidence. Human rights NGO's also believed that many instances of abuses go unreported by victims due to fear of reprisals or lack of confidence in the system."

Document(s): Open document

13.09.2001 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

Council of Europe: Human rights violations committed by the police; one year-delay in the payment of salaries ("Honouring of obligations and commitments by Georgia [Doc. 9191]") [#10653],  [ID 5956]

"78. The conduct of the police is probably the major human rights problem in Georgia, and this opinion was shared by senior political personalities during both visits to the country.

79. More specifically, in our May meeting with the Minister of the Interior we went through the list of the most serious allegations of human rights violations by the police force, a list which we had received from non-governmental organisations:[6]

- certain law enforcement agencies and other government bodies illegally interfered with citizens' right to privacy, and notably security police entered homes and places of work without any legal sanction;

- security forces dispersed or restricted some peaceful rallies violently;

- the majority of detainees were subjected to torture or ill-treatment as a routine method of extracting 'confessions' or other information and abuses security forces have led to several deaths in custody;

- the limits placed on pre-trial detention and police custody by the Constitution, were often not observed in practice.

80. The minister said that he had not seen any evidence of these allegations, but labelled those who made the allegations as “enemies of Georgia”. He admitted however that certain problems existed but assured us that those who violated the law were brought to justice, as could be seen on the statistics which he handed over. These statistics do, however, not show how many policemen were definitely sentenced and imprisoned. Concerning disciplinary actions, the Minister told us that 123 policemen were dismissed in 1991 and 265 in 2000 for abuse of power. In response to the complaint that law enforcement agencies and other government bodies, especially the Ministry of Communications, monitor private telephone conversations without court orders, the Minister told us that the technical devices for such monitoring were not available in Georgia.

81. The Minister admitted that occasionally the police did stop and search vehicles without apparent reason to extort bribes and that arbitrary arrests and detentions did occur. But he reiterated that those responsible for such abuses were always brought before justice.

82. During our second meeting at the beginning of November 2000, the Minister informed us that exams had been organised amongst the traffic police to limit abuses. Out of 692 candidates, only 219 had passed the exams and received a certificate.

83. On the other hand, the Minister of the Interior underlined the economic problems police went through: there was a one year-delay in the payment of salaries to the policemen which was of course no excuse for torture, but could partly explain recourse to bribes.

84. The attitude of police was one of the main subjects discussed with the Minister of the Interior during a hearing organised in the majority party, the Citizens’ Union Faction, just before our arrival to the country. The hearing was on the television and lasted approx. 8 hours. We were told that the parliamentarians were highly critical towards the Minister and their criticisms were widely welcomed by the public opinion which reacted very positively to the idea of such a hearing. We understood from the Speaker of the Parliament that this hearing was one of the examples showing the determination of the Parliament to increase its supervisory role over the executive."

Document(s): Open document

07.2001 - Source: Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development

CIPDD: Reform of the police is not politically feasible in the foreseeable future ("Georgia's Membership in the Council of Europe, Achievements and Failures") [#10549],  [ID 5957]

"Reforming the Ministry of Internal Affairs is another paramount but especially difficult task for the
Georgian state. Arguably, the ministry has become the most powerful agency in the country after the president’s
office, and it is widely considered to be the backbone of Georgia’s stability. The minster of the interior as well
as the president reiterate that the reform of this agency should be approached with utmost caution so that the
country’s stability is not be endangered. At the same time, however, the same agency is considered to be the
hotbed of corruption and the force that is involved in blatant violations of human rights.
Reform-minded politicians concede in private that reform of the police is not politically feasible in the
foreseeable future and for the time being all efforts should be concentrated on the reform of the Prosecutors
Office. This explains in part why the minister, Kakha Targamadze, did not find any resistance during his
confirmation in Parliament in the spring of 2000. At that time, he himself presented the plan of reforming the
law-enforcement system proposing to create a joint investigation service by merging capacities of the Ministry
of Internal Affairs, Ministry of State Security and Ministry of Defence. However, no steps in this direction have
been taken so far."

Document(s): cipdd-geo.pdf