September 16: Allegedly illegal arrest of Zurab Abaev, the representative of the “National Movement”, and police violence against him
- On September 16, police arrested Zurab Abaev, a representative of the “National Movement”, outside the party's main office. According to Abaev, the police assaulted him during his detention, and the beating continued in the car and at the police station as well. Abaev became incapacitated in the department, necessitating the call for medical assistance and transportation to the clinic, where it was discovered that he had sustained various injuries. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, law enforcement officers stopped Abaev for verification, during which he resisted the officers, and he was arrested under Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offences Code of Georgia, which refer to disorderly conduct and non-compliance with a lawful order or demand of a law-enforcement officer.
The circumstances indicate that Zurab Abaev was most likely illegally detained and mistreated. To ensure elections are conducted fairly, such cases must be investigated promptly, thoroughly, and impartially. The Special Investigation Service must establish all of the facts surrounding the case, including the existence of a political purpose for the violence and the potential wrongdoing of law enforcement officers.