Prosecutors Open Probe into Alleged Violence Against Kancheli

The Tbilisi Prosecutor's Office Investigation Department has launched an investigation into alleged violence against Sergei Kancheli by employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The investigation is being conducted into the abuse of official powers involving violence, under Article 333, Part 3, Subparagraph "b" of the Criminal Code.

According to the prosecutor's office, the investigation was launched "in connection with the alleged violence committed against Sergei Kancheli by employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia".

Sergei Kancheli, a participant in the protests, writes that on September 27 he became a victim of physical retribution by the police. According to him, police stopped him while he was out jogging, there were six people in total, they took him to a cemetery and physically assaulted him. Kancheli said that they threatened him with a knife, threatened him with a weapon and forced him to perform sexual acts. He says that this lasted for about 50 minutes.

Kancheli claims that the police actions were related to his civic position: during the violence he was referred to as "Akatsuki" and his position was ridiculed. According to him, he is now in a safe country and had to leave Georgia. He says he filed the complaint so that the perpetrators would be found and prosecuted.

According to Kancheli's lawyer, Giorgi Mkheidze, they applied to the General Prosecutor's Office and demanded that an investigation be launched immediately. The lawyer says they are seeking an investigation under Article 144 (third) of the Criminal Code, which concerns degrading or inhuman treatment with aggravating circumstances, as well as Article 138, which concerns other sexual acts.

Source: Publika