Zviad Maisashvili Beaten by Riot Police, Officially Declared a Victim Months Later
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Zviad Maisashvili, who was assaulted by riot police during a protest, has been officially recognized as a victim eight months later.
Maisashvili, who was beaten by special forces officers during a December 2024 protest, confirmed to the media today that he was granted victim status a few days ago.
Speaking to Radio Liberty, he said:
"The footage doesn't show everything that happened. What you see is only the final part - when they had already finished beating me.
What you don't see is that a large number of police suddenly descended from the upper street - it happened in seconds. They ran toward Rustaveli Metro. My brother and I were standing together, but we couldn't go back toward Rustaveli anymore.
It wasn't even the epicenter of the protest - it was a spot where people were simply leaving and slowly heading home. That's where it happened. We decided to turn back toward the protest. That's when a policeman hit me in the corner, knocked me down, and within seconds, officers from all directions were beating me. I don't know how many there were, but it was from every side.
I completely blacked out. In the footage, you can see me barely standing, being struck in the heel, and then kicked - but I don't remember that at all. I was already unconscious at that point, so much so that I don't even recall it. And yet they still decided to do that to me.
In the footage, you can also see my brother being dragged in front of me. His eye was bruised. He was later taken to Kutaisi, where he was sentenced to six days in prison. Two days have already passed."
