Investigator detained for allegedly putting pressure on minor leading to suicide
The late Luka Siradze, 15, was summoned to the police station on December 10 and 11 for damaging the property of one of the private schools in Tbilisi and writing vulgar phrases on its walls.
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A female investigator Mariana Choloiani has been detained for placing psychological pressure leading to a suicide attempt of Luka Siradze, 15, who died at M. Iashvili Children’s Central Hospital earlier today.
Londa Toloraia, the first state inspector of Georgia, announced that her office has been investigating the case since December 12, looking into giving testimony, evidence or opinion under duress.
She said, a total of 70 witnesses have been questioned since then, including the minor’s classmates, friends and their parents, neighbours, school administration, teachers and security managers, and every person, who might have any information.
Londa Toloraia. Photo: State Inspector's Service/Facebook
Public Defender Nino Lomjaria sent her condolences to the minor’s family, calling this incident “a tragedy for the entire society, because we again failed to protect the child’s life”.
Lomjaria said, her office is studying the case from the very beginning and will continue to monitor the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, young protesters from Gabede (Dare) campaign gathered in front of the Didube-Chugureti police station holding banners: “F*** this life”.
One of the activists Misha Kumsishvili said it is not only about one particular person, but the entire police system needs to be revived.
He said, Gabede movement will spare no efforts to “fundamentally change this system”, including through radical steps.
The late Luka Siradze was summoned to the police station on December 10 and 11 for damaging the property of one of the schools in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and writing vulgar phrases on its walls.
A 15-year-old minor who may have been led to a suicide attempt by psychological pressure at Tbilisi Didube-Chugureti police station over a week ago, has died at M. Iashvili Children’s Central Hospital today.
UNICEF Georgia (United Nations Children's Emergency Fund) has called on the authorities to ensure children’s rights in the juvenile justice system, responding to the suicide attempt of a 15-year-old minor due to alleged psychological pressure at Didube-Chugureti police station last week.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has dismissed allegations by the family of a 15-year-old of allegedly applying psychological pressure at Tbilisi Didube-Chugureti police station last week, which may have led to a suicide attempt by the minor.
The Georgian parliament has approved Londa Toloraia, the former head of Human Rights Department of the Interior Ministry, as the country’s first state inspector to investigate possible crimes committed by law enforcers.
Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia once again responded to the death of a minor on December 17 and stated that there is no time for politicizing tragedies as concrete, further steps must be taken for the welfare of children. “What the state does in terms of systemic reforms or the improvement of the education field, everything which is in touch with the youth must be even more effective, target-oriented and prevent such tragedies."
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has promised “very tough punishment” for those, ‘no matter their status or rank’, whose guilt will be revealed by the State Inspector’s Office in pushing 15-year-old Luka Siradze to suicide on December 11. Gakharia has expressed his “deep sorrow” over the death of Siradze, who died in Iashvili Hospital in Tbilisi early yesterday due to severe injuries he received after jumping from the ninth floor of a building.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has responded to the death of 15-year-old Luka Siradze, who jumped from the ninth floor of a building after being subjected to alleged psychological pressure at Didube police station in Tbilisi, saying that “we must make major changes to avoid such tragedies.”“The death of a 15-year-old boy is a big tragedy for the state. I share the hard moments with the family and wish them to stand strong in this very difficult time,” Zurabishvili wrote.
State Inspector Londa Toloraia says her office has evidence Investigator Mariana Choloiani exerted psychological pressure on Luka Siradze, a 15-year-old boy who later committed suicide.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has arrested a police officer with a charge of physically assaulting a woman in Georgia’s western town of Zugdidi on January 26.