Transparency International Georgia Blames Ruling Party for Police Violence After TV Pirveli Footage
By Messenger Staff
Monday, June 15, 2026
Transparency International Georgia has accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of fostering a culture of police violence and impunity, following the broadcast of footage by TV Pirveli that allegedly showed law enforcement officers beating citizens inside a police station.
In a statement released after the report aired on TV Pirveli's program Nodar Meladze's Saturday, the organization said the excessive use of force, ill-treatment, and lack of accountability within the police system are no longer isolated incidents but have become systemic problems.
"These have not been arbitrary actions by individual police officers for years now; they represent state policy, for which Bidzina Ivanishvili and the ruling party bear responsibility," the statement said.
According to Transparency International Georgia, civil society organizations have been warning for years about excessive use of force and impunity within law enforcement agencies. The group said repeated cases of alleged abuse have prompted longstanding calls for institutional reforms and stronger investigative mechanisms.
The organization argued that the establishment of the Special Investigation Service failed to address the issue effectively. It also noted that the agency's former head, Koka Katsitadze, was placed under the United Kingdom's Magnitsky sanctions regime over what British authorities described as a failure to adequately investigate allegations of systematic torture and degrading treatment by police officers.
Transparency International Georgia further criticized the government's decision to abolish the Special Investigation Service, claiming that authorities have increasingly ignored allegations of police misconduct while failing to show support for victims.
As an example, the organization cited reports that a police officer arrested in February 2026 on charges of exceeding official authority against a minor was released on bail after spending only a few months in detention. It also pointed to what it said was the lack of effective investigations into the alleged torture and inhuman treatment of nearly 300 individuals by police officers.
The group said the current situation is the result of policies promoted by the ruling party and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, particularly his repeatedly stated position of having "zero sympathy" toward those involved in anti-government protests.
"The ruling party's approach and Irakli Kobakhidze's repeatedly expressed policy of zero sympathy are what have led to the disturbing reality society has been witnessing every day in recent months," the statement said.
Transparency International Georgia also recalled that it has documented and raised concerns for years regarding allegations of torture, beatings, unlawful strip searches, degrading treatment, and other serious violations committed by police officers.
