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On September 1, 2026, lawyer Ia Siranashvili became a victim of physical violence from the side of law enforcement officers while carrying out her professional duties. As a result, she sustained physical injuries and required medical assistance. Despite the gravity of this incident, the state has not taken measures to effectively respond to the fact. Up to five police officers involved in the incident remain at liberty and continue to exercise their official duties, which leaves the lawyer with a sense of vulnerability and gives rise to a genuine and well-founded fear for her personal safety.

The approach of the investigative authorities to this case is particularly alarming. To date, Ia Siranashvili has been unjustifiably denied to receive a victim status in the criminal proceedings, without any adequate reasoning being provided for such refusal. Furthermore, during the process of reviewing the materials of the investigation, the investigative authority required her to sign a non-disclosure statement. As a result, the lawyer’s ability to speak publicly about her own case and the circumstances surrounding the violence perpetrated against her has been restricted.

The actions of the law enforcement officers contain not only elements of the criminal offence of exceeding official powers through the use of violence (Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia), but, more importantly, elements of an offence directed against the administration of justice. In particular, Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Georgia establishes criminal liability for interfering with the activities of an attorney for the purpose of obstructing the provision of legal defense. Since the police officers subjected Ia Siranashvili to violence while she was performing her professional duties and, moreover, did so by taking advantage of their official positions, such conduct clearly falls within the scope of Article 364(4) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

Human Rights Center believes that the violence against Ia Siranashvili, together with the subsequent ineffective investigation, constitutes a serious violation of a number of provisions of both the Constitution of Georgia and the European Convention on Human Rights. Furthermore, the incident constitutes a violation of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, which require States to ensure that lawyers are able to perform their professional duties free from intimidation, hindrance, harassment, or improper interference.

In the light of abovementioned, for timely and effective response to the incident, Human Rights Center calls on: 

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Georgia:
•    To conduct timely, independent and impartial investigation of the case under the correct qualification that should imply the crimes punishable under the Article 364(4) of the Criminal Code of Georgia (interference in the professional activities of a lawyer by abusing office power) as well as under the Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. 
•    To timely identify the persons involved in the violence and hold them accountable in accordance with the law.
•    To immediately grant victim status to the Lawyer Ia Siranashvili to enable her to enjoy her procedural rights. 
•    To revoke the non-disclosure obligation imposed on Ia Siranashvili, as it is intended to silence the victim and violates her freedom of expression.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs:
•    To immediately suspend professional duties of the police officers participating in the incident until the investigation is over in order to eliminate the risk of their influence on the victim, witness and the ongoing investigation process. 

Human Rights Center