His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
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Month: May 2026
Мнение о полицейском насилии в Гори
Speaking about the violence inflicted on Papuna Lotsulashvili by police officers in Gori, Tamar Oniani, chair of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, said prosecutors should classify the crime under specific provisions dealing with torture, inhuman treatment or degrading treatment.
According to Tamar Oniani, the incident that took place in Gori two days ago and came to public attention after video footage emerged does not constitute abuse of authority, as the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has classified it and under which six police officers have been charged. In her view, the incident amounted, among other things, to a punitive operation.
According to Georgian prosecutors, authorities have arrested six people in Gori in connection with a case involving violence against a civilian by police officers. The case drew public attention after Kartlis Ambebi published a video on 27 May 2026 that allegedly shows several police officers brutally beating a man during his detention.
Tamar Oniani said: “This was a kind of punitive operation carried out with force and particular cruelty against a defenceless person. He lay motionless on the ground while officers beat him. The video captures his desperate voice, which likely echoed all the way to nearby buildings. That is probably why journalists were able to record the violence.
That footage saved this man from further abuse. Unfortunately, we know of many cases in which people reported police violence, but the absence of video evidence left the outcome of those cases unclear. For a long time, investigators have simply said that ‘the investigation is ongoing’ without producing any concrete results.
Legally, the prohibition on the use of force by law enforcement officers is not absolute. In certain circumstances, police officers may use force, but they must have legitimate grounds for doing so. What we saw in Gori was not a lawful use of force but a punitive operation. That is why we believe prosecutors should classify this crime under the specific provisions of the Criminal Code dealing with torture, inhuman treatment or degrading treatment.”
“It is also important for the victim that the state recognises what happened to him for what it was, rather than treating it as a simple ‘abuse of authority’. If investigators do not pursue the case under these specific provisions, they will effectively limit the scope of the investigation. They also will not assess the evidence according to the standards that should apply to crimes of this nature.
It is noteworthy that prosecutors have charged the victim, Papuna Lotsulashvili, with a criminal offence (‘resisting, threatening or using violence against a person maintaining public order or another public official’ — JAMnews). However, nothing in the video footage that has circulated publicly suggests that the force used against Lotsulashvili was proportionate, even if he had been resisting arrest.”
Opinion on police violence in Gori
The geopolitical landscape of global energy is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation, and Azerbaijan is positioning itself not just as a spectator, but as a principal architect of this new era. For decades, the narrative surrounding the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) was confined to the boundaries of a traditional upstream supplier.
Parliamentary elections will take place in Armenia on 7 June 2026. Ahead of the vote, part of Abkhazia’s opposition has urged Armenians to vote against the ruling Civil Contract party of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Other opposition figures in Abkhazia reacted negatively to the appeal, arguing that it amounts to interference in Armenia’s internal affairs.
Several opposition organisations informally led by Adgur Ardzinba appealed to Alik Minasyan, asking him to encourage Armenian citizens to make what they described as the “right choice”. In other words, they urged voters to support political forces that regard alliance and friendship with Russia as fundamental principles.
“In the current geopolitical reality, strengthening relations between Armenia and Russia, our strategic partner and ally, serves as a guarantee of stability, security in the South Caucasus and Armenia’s future prosperity.
We are convinced that the voice of Abkhazia’s Armenian community will be heard by Armenia’s citizens, who will choose in favour of Armenian-Russian friendship,” the organisations said in a joint statement.
Alik Minasyan has not yet responded publicly to the appeal. Other Abkhaz opposition figures, however, reacted strongly against it. They argued that if Abkhazians dislike attempts by outsiders to influence elections in their republic, they should not try to influence elections elsewhere.
“We believe that focusing on the internal problems of our own society would be more logical and more useful,” said Aidgylara, which is led by another informal opposition leader, Kan Kvarchia.
Another opposition organisation, Apsuaa Rymch, argued that local Armenians are, first and foremost, citizens of Abkhazia. The group said that “instrumentalising an ethnic community and attempting to draw it into electoral processes abroad is a short-sighted step that does not contribute to civic harmony but instead imports foreign political crises into our society”.
Akhra Bzhania, the leader of the civic organisation Akhyatsa, also expressed surprise at the appeal and drew a comparison with Abkhazia itself.
“Imagine that an Abkhaz community existed in Armenia, and Armenian political and civic organisations suddenly issued a joint appeal urging it to support a particular candidate in elections in Abkhazia. I wonder whether we would welcome such advice,” he said.
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Abkhaz opposition weighs in on Armenia’s elections