**Police Officers Not Politically Neutral, Report Says**
Police officers in Georgia have a clear political ideology and negative biases against protesters. This is according to a statement made by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Transparency International and the civil platform “Georgia’s European Orbit“.
The report highlights several cases of police violence and degrading treatment of detainees. For example, human rights defender Gia Jvarashvili was arrested with excessive force on January 11 in Tbilisi. He was hospitalized due to sustained injuries.
Other detainees, including Mzia Amaghlobeli, a founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, were subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment following their illegal detention. They reported being physically assaulted by police officers, including the Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze.
**Women Detainees Also Affected**
The report also mentions cases of sexual harassment, inhumane treatment, beatings, and rape threats against female detainees from November-December. These cases remain uninvestigated, with no one held accountable.
Mzia Amaghlobeli’s case is particularly alarming. She was spat on by the Batumi Police Chief during her detention, denied access to water and the restroom, and not granted victim status. Her pregnancy was also terminated due to police violence during a house search.
**”Kidnapping” of Protesters**
The report highlights the practice of protesters being “detained” by unidentified individuals, effectively amounting to abductions. Detainees are taken off the streets by plainclothes officers and their whereabouts remain unknown to lawyers and family members for hours.
This practice has been used against several young protesters, including two who were detained near the Rustaveli metro station on January 18. They reported being beaten and robbed by masked individuals linked to their participation in protests.
**Justice System Also Criticized**
The report also criticizes the justice system for being politically motivated. Since the elections, nearly 500 people have been administratively detained, while 44 have been criminally detained. Courts have imposed pretrial detention on detainees without justification and ignored evidence of torture and inhumane treatment during detention.
Judges and prosecutors involved in these cases are also named in the report, sparking concerns about impartiality and accountability.