Papuna Lotsulashvili, who was attacked by police officers in Gori, published a statement on his brother’s social media account.
The open letter states that what happened was “terrible,” but the main thing, according to him, is that “today these police officers have already been punished.”
Lotsulashvili thanked the public for their support and appealed to certain groups making “political statements” not to use his case for their own interests.
«What happened was terrible. The main thing is that these people have already been punished today. I want to appeal to those who are trying to use this story for their own interests and to gain publicity from it: do not use my situation for your own purposes.
Unfortunately, many people are speaking on my behalf and making various political statements. I ask that no one speak for me. And this incident will serve as an example to others in the future—that there will be no impunity, and anyone who acts this way will be punished», — Papuna stated.
As a reminder, the court ordered pretrial detention for the six police officers accused of violence against Papuna Lotsulashvili and Lasha Abisonashvili—Aleksi Badalov, Giorgi Tskrialashvili, Saba Tsavelidze, Ivane Misireli, Vladimir Goderdzishvili, and Beso Malatsidze.
The incident occurred in Gori, in the so-called “Kombinat” district, where law enforcement officers used physical force against two citizens—Papuna Lotsulashvili and his friend.
In connection with the incident, six law enforcement officers were detained. They have been charged under Article 333, Part 3, Paragraph “b” of the Criminal Code of Georgia—exceeding official authority committed with the use of violence, which carries a prison sentence of 5 to 8 years.
A case has also been opened against Papuna Lotsulashvili himself under Article 353 of the Criminal Code—use of violence against a police officer.
The public is wondering why the police officers have not been charged under the article on torture against a citizen.