Two police officers arrested for physically assaulting disabled minor
The assaulting officer has been charged with "degrading or inhuman treatment by an official against a minor, through abuse of official authority", the release also said, with his colleague facing the charge of abuse of official authority after failing to report the assault. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The interior ministry has arrested two police officers involved in a physical assault on a disabled 17-year-old in Tbilisi Metro on Sunday, charging them for the violent attack seen by TV viewers and leading to outcry on social media.
Giorgi Gamezardashvili, Deputy Head of the State Inspector's Office, said the two officers had been arrested following the prompt investigation announced by the ministry late on Monday, after the footage aired on television channels and was posted on social media.
On January 24, 2022, based on the information spread through media, the State Inspector's Office immediately launched an investigation. Witnesses were questioned, including the victim, who was questioned in the presence of a psychologist,” Gamezardashvili said.
The investigators said the disabled minor and his brother had been approached by the police in Isani metro station on Sunday evening, with the 17-year-old taken to the police staff room at the station, where one of the officers repeatedly punched the minor in the head.
The assault continued despite the juvenile indicating he was disabled and could not understand the officer addressing him throughout the arrest and the subsequent attack, the ministry's statement said. The incident was witnessed and recorded before the footage was released by the media.
The assaulting officer has been charged with "degrading or inhuman treatment by an official against a minor, through abuse of official authority", the release also said, with his colleague facing the charge of abuse of official authority after failing to report the assault.