Interior ministry launches investigation into police brutality following video footage

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has launched an investigation after video footage allegedly showing physical assault on a disabled person on Tbilisi Metro was broadcast on television on Monday.

Responding to the footage shown by Pirveli channel, the ministry said the State Inspector’s Office had launched an inquiry into the matter, with the ministry’s General Inspection starting the investigation immediately following the release of the footage.

In its comments the MIA condemned human rights violations and said the practice was “categorically unacceptable” to the body, also clarifying the inquest had been launched based on Article 333 [exceeding official authority] of the Criminal Code.

The broadcast video shows police arresting a young man in a Tbilisi Metro station - with no details on the arrest released at this time.

An individual accompanying the arrested citizen is seen attempting to explain their disability to the law enforcement as an explanation for their silence during the arrest.

The police crew seems to reject the explanation and takes the disabled person into a room at the station before physically assaulting them.