Georgia Launches Criminal Investigation After Police Caught on Video Beating Men in Gori

Georgia's Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal investigation into police conduct in Gori, a town in central Georgia, after video footage widely circulated on social media showed law enforcement officers beating two men — one of whom was kicked repeatedly while on the ground. The May 27 investigation was launched under Article 333, Part 3, subparagraph (b) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which addresses exceeding official powers with violence — a charge carrying five to eight years of imprisonment and deprivation of the right to hold office or carry out professional activities for up to three years.

The Incident

The footage, published by local media Kartlis Ambebi, was recorded in Gori's Kombinati settlement and shows approximately ten law enforcement officers approaching several individuals on grassland, forcibly dragging one man away for detention, and kicking him repeatedly. A second man is seen being beaten on the ground with sustained kicks. The video captured audible screaming from the men as they were beaten by officers.

At the scene, one police officer told reporters the detainee was carrying a bladed weapon. One of the men reportedly beaten by police later denied this in comments to journalists.

The incident drew immediate public condemnation across political lines. Public Defender's Office issued a statement "condemning all forms of unlawful actions by police, particularly cases of ill-treatment," and called on the Prosecutor's Office to ensure an "objective and effective investigation" and hold all responsible persons accountable.

The Victim Was Briefly Detained

Hours after the video emerged, one of the men beaten by police — Papuna Lotsulashvili — was detained by authorities. His lawyer, Lasha Tkeshelashvili, told media that Lotsulashvili was detained under Article 353 of the Criminal Code, which concerns "attack on a police officer." Tkeshelashvili called the charge "absurd," stating: "The footage clearly shows that he was subjected to violence and torture. Instead of detaining him, it is the police officers involved who should have been detained." Lotsulashvili was reportedly released within approximately one hour and transferred for medical examination.

Legal Framework

Article 333, Part 3, subparagraph (b) of Georgia's Criminal Code covers exceeding official powers committed with violence or the use of a weapon. This is distinct from lesser charges of official misconduct and carries substantial prison time — five to eight years — reflecting the seriousness with which Georgian law treats abuse of power by state actors.

This is not an isolated prosecution. On May 7, 2026, Georgia announced its first arrests over police abuses during the 2024 protest crackdown, signalling a shift toward criminal accountability for law enforcement. The Gori case represents the latest instance in what legal observers describe as an accelerating trend of criminal prosecutions against police officers — a notable departure from historical patterns of administrative or disciplinary responses alone.

Tamar Onioni, Chair of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA), a prominent human rights organisation, described the footage as "deeply disturbing" in a Facebook post, and drew a direct connection to broader impunity: "This is what happens when justice for cases of torture and beatings by police is only superficial. Impunity always has a chain reaction, and that is precisely why incidents of this kind involving members of law enforcement can no longer be considered isolated."

Londa Toloraia, a former director of the Interior Ministry's human rights department and seasoned legal observer, noted in her own post that criminal proceedings against police officers in Georgia almost invariably require independent evidence — typically video or photographic documentation, or a death. "Does someone have to die for such an officer to be punished in this country?" she asked.

Government Response

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze described the footage as "absolutely unacceptable" and said state agencies "should have and will have an appropriate response." The Prosecutor's Office stated that "urgent investigative actions are underway."

The investigation is ongoing. No charges against specific officers have been publicly filed as of the date of this article.

Implications for Accountability

Update (May 28, 2026): Six officers have now been arrested in connection with this incident — see Six Officers Arrested After Police Beating in Gori for the follow-up.

The Gori case underscores the evolving legal landscape around police conduct in Georgia. Article 333 Part 3 is a serious criminal charge — not a disciplinary matter — and its application here, based on video evidence rather than a complaint alone, may signal a more consistent willingness by prosecutors to pursue law enforcement abuses through the criminal justice system. For individuals who interact with Georgian law enforcement — whether as witnesses, complainants, or defendants — this case is a reminder that video documentation can be decisive in triggering criminal accountability that might otherwise not follow.

Witnessed or experienced police misconduct in Georgia? We advise on criminal complaints, evidentiary preservation, and Article 333 cases. Book a confidential call.