Currently, Giorgi Mdinaradze undergoes medical treatment at the Elisabed Blekveli Hospital, where he was delivered by emergency medical unit with brain concussion and grave injuries on the body. Lawyer Eka Kobesashvili, member of the human rights defenders mobile group of the HRHT, and lawyer Mukhran Gurtskaia defend his rights.

On November 9, the lawyer of the HRDs mobile group of the HRHT visited the client in the Blekveli Hospital but she was not allowed into the chamber though talked with the wife of the injured lawyer who provided her with detailed information about the incident.

Lawyer of the State Legal Aid Service Giorgi Mdinaradze was beaten by police officers in the police unit on November 8. Wife of the injured person Salome Tchkonia said on November 8, at 00:00 am head of the Tbilisi Legal Aid Service Bureau Sulkhan Komakhidze called and informed him about one juvenile detainee.

According to Salome Tchkonia, her husband received short message on his phone at 2:15 am informing that he had to participate in the interrogation. Giorgi told the wife he would return soon. Since then Tchkonia could not reach her husband during 2 hours though tried to call him several times. Tchkonia said somebody answered her sixth call and heard Giorgi’s shouting and urging for help. Salome Tchkonia immediately informed the head of the Tbilisi Legal Service Aid Sulkhan Komakhidze about the fact.

Based on Komakhidze’s request Giorgi Mdinaradze was freed at 8:00 am from the police office. According to the wife, the lawyer’s personal items were seized and nobody was allowed to see Mdinaradze.

The wife said Giorgi Mdinaradze had talked to the mother of the detained juvenile who said they were going to hire private lawyer in the morning. So Giorgi Mdinaradze said since another lawyer was to take up the case they will wait till the morning. However, the police officers categorically demanded to question the boy at night. Since the juvenile enjoyed the right to silence the police officers got anxious and took Giorgi Mdinaradze to the working room of the chief police officer where his hands were tied and about 5 police officers beat him.

Investigation into Mdinaradze’s case was already launched; representatives of the prosecutor’s office have already questioned him. Attorneys of the Public Defender’s Office also visited him.

It is first fact in Georgia when police officers interfered in the professional activities of the lawyer and physically abused him.

We demand to give right legal qualification to Giorgi Mdinaradze’s beating fact and to shortly investigate it. We also request criminal liability of the police officers at the Tbilisi police unit # 5.

Human Rights House Tbilisi and its member organizations:

  • Article 42 of the Constitution
  • Georgian Center for Psycho-Social and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims  GCRT
  • Human Rights Center
  • Human Rights and Conflict Studies – Kavkasia
  • Media Institute
  • Union Sapari