President Zurabishvili: "devoted service" of police should not be undermined by individual cases
President Zurabishvili emphasized that the offenders should be "strictly punished."
Photo: President's press office
Tweet 
Share
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has responded to the recent cases of police misconduct in the country, saying that the offenders should be "strictly punished," but the "devoted service" of the police should not be undermined by individual cases.
It is of the utmost importance for the public to have trust towards a state institution such as the police, which is responsible to protect public safety and human rights. The devoted service of the police to the country and the public is valuable, but sadly undermined by individual actions committed by some policemen. The offenders should be strictly punished, but the faces of particular people should not be generalised, and it is unacceptable to discredit a state institution because of individual cases, she said.
Two police officers were arrested on January 25 for physically assaulting a disabled teenager in Tbilisi metro.
Another police officer was arrested on January 26 for assaulting a woman in Georgia's western town of Zugdidi.
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.
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.
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.
Two journalists, Rati Ratiani and Giorgi Arobeladze, have accused police of assault, which allegedly took place following their arrest in Batumi on December 17.The incident occurred in front of the bar Adgili, which is located on Rustaveli street in Batumi close to the police department building.
Tbilisi City Court has denied bail to two police officers, Nukri Bakradze and Kakhaber Bakashvili, who were arrested on Tuesday for a physical assault on a disabled 17-year-old in Tbilisi Metro on Sunday. In his comments on the ruling, judge Mikheil Jinjolia said “based on the standard of substantiated presumption, the crime committed against a person with disabilities was committed for no reason by police officers who are supposed to maintain order.”
Police officer Nukri Bakradze, who was charged with assaulting a disabled minor in Tbilisi Metro in January, has been sentenced to five years in prison, news agency Interpressnews reported on Friday.