Georgia: A senior inspector of the Samtskhe-Javakheti Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has been arrested by the Special Investigation Service for stalking a woman in 2023.
The accused, identified as K.U., allegedly harassed and intimidated the woman by phone calls, various applications, and illegal surveillance on the street. He also repeatedly asked her for a personal meeting and relationship.
The victim, whose name has been withheld for privacy reasons, suffered mental problems, and moral damage, and was forced to change her lifestyle significantly due to the defendant’s actions. She reported the crime to the Special Investigation Service, which is an independent body that investigates crimes committed by law enforcement officers or violations of human rights established by the European Court of Human Rights.
The Special Investigation Service conducted a prompt investigation and obtained the evidence exposing the crime of the law enforcement officer. The evidence included surveillance camera recordings showing undesirable communication, detailed information about calls and short text messages from the mobile of the law enforcement officer, as well as messages sent from the application “WhatsApp”.
Based on the resolution issued by the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, the senior inspector of the Samtskhe-Javakheti Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was charged with stalking under Article 151¹ of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The crime shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of up to two years.
The Special Investigation Service continues to case investigation and urges anyone who has information or has been a victim of similar crimes to contact them.
Stalking is a serious crime in Georgia that involves the willful and malicious act of following, contacting, or surveilling another person without their consent, with the intent to harass, intimidate, or cause reasonable fear for their safety or the safety of a member of their immediate family. Stalking is a misdemeanor offense, unless the person has been convicted more than once or if the person violates a restraining order or a condition of probation or parole.
According to the latest data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, about 1 in 6 women and 1 in 17 men in Georgia have experienced stalking in their lifetime2. Stalking can have severe and lasting consequences for the victims, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social isolation.
Victims of stalking in Georgia have legal protections and resources available to them, such as restraining orders, protective orders, victim notification, and victim assistance programs. They can also seek help from various organizations and agencies that provide support, counseling, and advocacy for victims of stalking and other forms of violence.
