Transparency International Georgia responds to a segment broadcast on TV Pirveli, in the program "Nodar Meladze's Saturday," which concerns the beating of citizens and inhuman treatment of them by police officers.

For years, Georgian civil society has spoken about the problem of excessive use of force, improper treatment, and impunity within the police system. Precisely because of the abundance of such cases, for years we have demanded the implementation of institutional reforms and the creation of effective investigative mechanisms.

Although the government created a Special Investigative Service years ago, this did not resolve the problem in any substantive way. Moreover, the head of the Special Investigation Service, Koka Katsitadze, ended up on the UK government's "Magnitsky" sanctions list, precisely on the grounds that there was no effective investigation into the systemic torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment committed by police officers.

Instead of "Georgian Dream" and its founder Bidzina Ivanishvili resolving this most severe problem, they abolished the Special Investigation Service altogether. Furthermore, not only at the level of political rhetoric but also in practice, they have established a policy of ignoring incidents of police violence, showing zero sympathy toward victims, and ensuring impunity. This is confirmed by reports that in February 2026, a police officer detained for exceeding his authority against a minor was released by the court on bail, and as a result, spent only a few months in custody. In addition, to this day there has been no effective investigation into the torture or inhuman treatment inflicted by police forces on nearly 300 people.

It is precisely this approach of the ruling party and the policy of “zero sympathy“ repeatedly expressed by Irakli Kobakhidze, that accounts for the grim picture society has witnessed on a daily basis in recent months. For years now, these have not been the arbitrary actions of individual police officers - this is state policy, for which responsibility lies with Bidzina Ivanishvili and the ruling party.

We remind readers that Transparency International Georgia has for years spoken about cases of torture, beatings, illegal strip-searches, degrading treatment, and other serious violations committed by the police:

1. The illegal practice of strip-searching: https://bit.ly/4a3buga
2. Torture or inhuman treatment of detainees by Special Tasks Department employees: https://bit.ly/4vgGhia
3. Torture inflicted on Saba Skhvitaridze in police custody: https://bit.ly/4opEmoC