Special Investigation Service (SIS) of Georgia informs the public about the ongoing Special Investigation Service criminal case that will begin in April and May 2024.
The facts of possible violation of the power of work by violence against the participants of the protest demonstration held near the administrative buildings of the Parliament and the government in Tbilisi.
The Special Investigation Service received 80 reports from various agencies and hotlines regarding possible unlawful actions by law enforcement employees against protesters in April and May 2024, including hotlines concerning violations of the rights of protesters and individual journalists.
As known to the public, the special investigation service started immediately investigating the received messages for the crime mentioned under Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia 33.
The Special Investigation Service (SIS) provided a quick legal response to each message received. 67 persons (including nine journalists) have been questioned since the beginning of the investigation; 30 citizens have been subjected to a medical examination;
The scene of the incident was visited at different locations, at which time interesting surveillance video cameras were identified for the investigation;
To determine the factual circumstances and identify participants in the individual episodes interesting for the investigation, the investigation has obtained recordings of television programs in the public internet space;
In addition to the above, there is a process of requesting and studying surveillance video recordings of interesting surveillance cameras from various TV companies, internet spaces, private facilities, and public agencies for investigation.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs was asked for information about the identity of the detainees of the protesters and the law enforcers participating in the operation;
To create a base of witnesses and obtain documentary evidence, The “Center for Coordination of Emergency Situations and Emergency Aid” has requested information about the identity of the employees of the Emergency Medical Aid Group who were performing in connection with the protests of April and May 2024 in the vicinity of the Georgian Parliament building (in connection with the protest) On the duty of duty;
Based on the court’s verdict, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia provides temporary detention cases, and medical documentation are requested;
Private clinics are requested to provide information about generating medical documentation for those who died in April and May 2024.
In Tbilisi, after the events near the Georgian Parliament building, outpatient/inpatient medical care was provided; forensic experts have been appointed.
Within the framework of the ongoing case, the Special Investigation Service launched an investigation on May 1 regarding the episode of Levan Khabeishvili, who was injured at the rally.
Levan Khabeishvili was immediately contacted by telephone for his interrogation, but he did not answer the investigator’s phone calls and text messages. After the mention, on May 3, Levan Khabeishvili and his lawyer, defending his interests, were ordered to the investigative body for interrogation, for which the agency did not answer.
During the investigation, the location where the incident happened between the special forces and Levan Khabeishvili was inspected. Interesting surveillance video cameras were identified at the scene.
Mediation was presented in court regarding the request for video surveillance camera recordings of the National Gallery of Georgia and nearby objects;
A letter was sent to the medical clinic regarding the medical documentation of Levan Khabeishvili to retrieve and conduct a forensic examination and also for the request to keep/archive the medical clinic records for the sake of retrieval;
A letter was sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to Levan Khabeishvili about the identity of the law enforcers involved;
Various media outlets have been requested for information on how to leak video footage, including raw footage, of the incident between Levan Khabeishvili and special forces.
The Special Investigations Service provides the public with information about the investigation’s progress and results.
