Georgia: According to Georgia's Special Investigation Service (SIS), a law enforcement officer from the Interior Ministry's Special Duties Department has been charged with domestic violence and threats against his wife and children.
The Special Investigation Service said that the accused, identified only as AB, physically abused his wife in 2023 and 2024 in the presence of their minor children and threatened to endanger her life and destroy her property.
According to the special investigation service, there were several instances of abuse and threats in October and December 2023 and in February 2024 when the defendant communicated with his wife via the social network “Facebook”.
The Special Investigation Service said it conducted an urgent investigation and obtained evidence once the victim was treated. Based on the findings of the Georgian prosecutor's office, he charged the law enforcement officer with domestic violence in the presence of a minor and threatening injury to the life and destruction of property of a family member under Article 126 and Article 151 of the Georgian Penal Code.
The Special Investigation Service said it continues to investigate the case and will ensure that the rights of the victim and the accused are respected.
Domestic violence
Domestic violence is a serious problem in Georgia, which saw a 2.5% decrease in family violence incidents reported to law enforcement between 2018 and 2021, but saw a 13% decrease in certified family violence crisis calls, according to the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence % increased and sexual assault agencies in 2022.
Family Violence Act (FVA)
The Georgia Family Violence Act protects victims and punishes perpetrators, and the Special Investigation Service is the agency responsible for investigating crimes committed by law enforcement officers.
The Georgia Family Violence Act is an additional consideration for a specific category of crimes that occur between certain family members and relationships.
