The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia [PoG] announced arresting 3 and identifying 2 more suspects already in jail over violence against journalist Guram Rogava, politician Levan Khabeishvili, and protester Zviad Maisashvili, marking the 1st arrests of those allegedly involved in police abuses during the 2024-2025 protests.

As Prosecutor General said at today’s briefing, those identified include 3 former and 1 current officers of the Interior Ministry Special Tasks Department.

“As a result of operational and investigative measures carried out by the PoG, three former and one serving riot police officer, as well as one serving employee of the Security Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs [MIA], have been identified and arrested in connection with acts of violence perpetrated against Z. Maisashvili, L. Khabeishvili and G. Rogava during the course of the ongoing demonstrations in 2024. More specifically, two of the five accused are already in custody in connection with separate criminal offences and administrative violations, whilst three were arrested today.

In the course of these criminal proceedings, the Investigative Division of the Tbilisi PoG has conducted thousands of investigative and procedural actions, including the questioning of more than 550 individuals as witnesses.

1st episode: On November 30, 2024, on Rustaveli Avenue, two then-employees of the MIA’ Special Tasks Force, one of whom is, as of today, an employee of the Security Police, physically assaulted Z. Maisashvili, causing him to lose consciousness. This footage is well known to the public.

2nd episode: On April 30, 2024, on Rustaveli Avenue, during the course of a demonstration, a then-employee of the MIA’ Special Tasks Force, who is currently head of a unit within the Special Operations Department of the State Security Service, along with another employee of the Special Tasks Force, physically assaulted L. Khabeishvili.

3rd episode: On November 29, 2024, during a demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue, an employee of the MIA’ Special Tasks Force physically assaulted journalist G. Rogava, who was carrying out his journalistic duties at the moment of the attack.

All 5 detainees will be charged under Article 333, Part 3, Subparagraph (b) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to the unlawful and violent abuse of official authority. The individual arrested in connection with the G. Rogava episode will additionally face charges under Article 154, Part 2, concerning the unlawful obstruction of a journalist’s professional activities by means of violence. The charges as laid carry a custodial sentence of between 5 and 8 years.

The PoG will apply to the court for a remand in custody in respect of all 5 accused. In overall coordination with other law enforcement agencies, we shall continue the investigation with a view to identifying and bringing to criminal account all those involved in the episodes described above, as well as in other acts of violence”, - said Giorgi Gvarakidze.