Writers, publishers and representatives of the Pen-Center made a joint statement in connection with the case of poet Zviad Ratiani. Writers demand publication of the video footage of the incident.

“The man is brutally beaten. He has a severe form of brain concussion and still talks are about that he was swearing. The function of the police is not to control our clothes. We don’t have moral police”, – Giorgi Lobdhanidze said.

“Zviad Ratiani is a well-known public person; imagine how they treat with the ordinary citizens. Show us these eight persons, who physically assaulted Zviad Ratiani” – Lasha Bugadze said.

“The fight against crime requires education, wisdom, logic and not raids. The fact is that there are many unprofessional, unqualified and totally uneducated people in the police who do not know what human rights are… Yes, everybody is swearing in this country, including Zviad Ratiani, it is not sufficient grounds for several police officers to beat Zviad Ratiani or other citizen of Georgia”, – Dato Turashvili said.

Georgian poet Zviad Ratiani was detained yesterday. He accuses law-enforcers of physical abuse.