Public Defender condemns unlawful conduct by police, cites ongoing ill-treatment concerns

Georgia’s Public Defender has condemned all forms of unlawful conduct by police officers, particularly cases involving alleged ill-treatment, in response to footage circulated through public sources showing violence against citizens by law enforcement.

In a statement, the Ombudsman’s Office said that, given heightened public interest, it was highlighting key findings and recommendations from its 2025 parliamentary report concerning police conduct. The report is based on the work of the Special Preventive Group, which carried out 79 monitoring visits to police facilities and temporary detention centers during the year, while also interviewing detainees, convicted prisoners and lawyers and reviewing a range of relevant data.

According to the report, the Special Preventive Group continues to receive information each year about alleged violence against detainees by police, both during and after arrest, including in police vehicles and administrative buildings. The Public Defender noted that nearly half of administratively detained individuals identified through medical documentation reviews reported sustaining injuries during or immediately after their detention.

The Ombudsman reiterated that preventing torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment is impossible without combating impunity and ensuring effective safeguards against abuse. The office stressed that recommendations issued in this area have remained largely unimplemented for years.

The report also highlights the absence of mandatory video recording by patrol and criminal police officers during interactions with citizens, as well as the lack of requirements to record detainees inside police vehicles or to audio-visually document questioning procedures. It further notes that surveillance camera coverage in police departments remains insufficient, with some units lacking cameras altogether.

Among other concerns, the Public Defender pointed to the continued practice of de facto detention without formal procedures, as well as problems related to informing detainees of their rights, ensuring access to legal counsel, and properly documenting the use of force by police.

The Ombudsman’s Office called on relevant state institutions to take immediate and effective steps to implement the recommendations outlined in the parliamentary report.