We would like to inform the public about the ongoing criminal cases within the Special Investigation Service, which will concern the facts of possible exceeding official powers using violence by the law enforcement officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs against rally participants held near the Parliament of Georgia on March 7-9, 2023, in Tbilisi.

On March 7-9, 2023 the Special Investigation Service received 123 reports from different institutions on the facts of possible illegal actions by law enforcement officers against the rally participants held near the Parliament of Georgia, in Tbilisi. The Reports concerned the violation of the rights of participants and some journalists.

As it’s known to the public, the Special Investigation Service started the rapid investigation regarding received reports with the signs of the crime provided by Article 333, Part 3, Paragraph “B” of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

The investigation is in progress as a separate episode on the fact of possible exceeding official powers using violence by some employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs against citizens Zurab Japaridze and Nika Mosiashvili held near the Parliament of Georgia on March 8, in Tbilisi.

In addition to the above-mentioned, the subjects of the investigation are also facts of possible exceeding the official powers of the law enforcement officers against some persons identified by the Service based on monitoring the video materials spread by the mass media.

The Special Investigation Service provided a rapid legal response to each report. Since the beginning of the investigation, 91 citizens (including 19 journalists) inquired.

In the frame of the current investigation, 7 different accident scene was inspected and surveillance video cameras of the investigation interest were identified.

The Service obtained recordings of TV programs available on the internet and based on the court ruling, requested video recordings from the Parliament of Georgia, Emergency Response Center 112 of MIA, Tbilisi City Hall, and other public and private institutions located near the Parliament building (In total, from 37 organizations) in order to establish the actual circumstances of the incident, to study the issue of possible exceeding official powers and identify law enforcement officers represented in special equipment, in the frames of individual episodes of investigation interest as well as to determine their recognizable signs.

By this time the total duration of obtained records is more than 3,000 hours which are being studied and reviewed by the investigation team in an investigative manner and active mode.

In addition to the above, court rulings have been obtained to request surveillance and CCTV camera materials from the Patrol Police Department, Temporary Detention Department and Emergency Response Center 112 of MIA (Recordings of the surveillance cameras of the external perimeter of the Patrol Police Department building and the Tbilisi Temporary Detention Center, the on-board video recordings of the vehicles of the Patrol Police Department, and the shoulder-piece camera of the patrol inspectors). Court rulings have been forwarded to the mentioned institutions and the records are being prepared. Also, court rulings are obtained to request the audio-video recordings taken during the rally from 7 TV companies, private individuals and from other institutions which are also in the process of execution. the investigation team will conduct a detailed study and monitoring of the abovementioned video materials after attaching them to the criminal cases.

Regarding the Zurab Girchi Japaridze and Nika Mosiashvili case episode, it was found that the surveillance video camera recording device (DVR) of the public institution located in the area of the incident was technically damaged and not accessible due to technical reasons. On the basis of the court’s ruling, the mentioned recording device was taken from the Special State Protection Service of Georgia, and an information-technological examination was appointed at Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau in order to determine the causes of damage to the device, to obtain existing records in it (including through recovery) and to establish other circumstances of the investigation interest.

Information about the employees of the MIA who detained the protest participants and participated in the operation was requested from the Ministry of Internal Affair and they actively interrogated.

In order to create a database of witnesses and obtain documentary evidence, information about the employees of the emergency medical team was requested from LEPL Emergency Situation Coordination and Urgent Assistance Center, who performed their official duties on March 7-9, 2023, near the area of the Parliament of Georgia, in Tbilisi.

Based on the court’s ruling, the medical documentation/cards of those persons who received medical service near the area of the Parliament of Georgia on March 7-9, 2023 in Tbilisi are requested from LEPL Emergency Situation Coordination and Urgent Assistance Center

Based on the court’s ruling, administrative detention and medical documentation are requested from the Temporary Detention Center of MIA.

Private medical clinics are also requested to provide information on the medical documentation of those persons who received inpatient and outpatient care after the events occurred near the Parliament of Georgia on March 7-9, 2023 in Tbilisi. Forensic medical examinations are already appointed. Among them, a forensic medical examination for Zurab Girchi Japaridze (based on his personal submission) and Nika Mosiashvili (based on medical documentation) are appointed at LEPL Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau.

The Special Investigation Service is also actively investigating the episode of Zaza Bighiashvili, who was injured during the protest rally. Within the mentioned investigation, Zaza Bighiashvili was inquired to clarify and establish circumstances for the investigation interest. For the objective medical examination, Zaza Bighiashvili was appointed, personally presented and examined by the expert at LEPL Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau.

The scene of the accident and the surrounding area were inspected at different locations.

Based on the court’s ruling, video camera recordings obtained from the internet web page, and various private and public institutions were actively reviewed in order to identify and determine the specific circumstances of Zaza Bighiashvili’s injuries.

The employees of an Emergency Medical Team of the LEPL Emergency Situation Coordination and Urgent Assistance Center who worked for medical assistance near the area of the Parliament of Georgia on March 8, 2023, were inquired.

Based on the court’s ruling, the medical documentation of Zaza Bighiashvili was taken from LEPL Emergency Situation Coordination and Urgent Assistance Center and a Civil Clinic, which will be sent to the forensic medical examination.

The Special Investigation Service conducts the investigation of the above-mentioned cases in an open and transparent manner. The service provides rally participants (held near the area of Parliament, on March 7-9, 2023), who indicate violations of their rights by law enforcement officers, with the opportunity to access and familiarize criminal case materials. Also, citizens, human rights organizations and the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia will be provided with comprehensive information regarding the ongoing investigation and issues of their interest.

The Special Investigation Service will continue to conduct active investigative and procedural actions for obtaining the relevant evidence and identifying the persons exposed to the crime. The service will ensure legal measures provided by the law.

The Special Investigation Service will provide information about the progress and results of the investigation to the public.