Detainee in Georgia alleges police threats of forced anal rape and burial during custody.

In the heart of Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia, Rezo Kiknadze, an anti-government demonstrator, found himself in the midst of a legal battle. Kiknadze was jailed on criminal charges in Tbilisi City Court.

The latest wave of protests in Georgia began on 28 November, and several protesters have already been convicted and sentenced to years in prison. Kiknadze was one of them.

Kiknadze was detained during these protests, which were against the Georgian Dream government's suspension of its EU membership bid. On that fateful day, he was apprehended inside a metro station by two men dressed in black.

From Lisi Lake, where he was initially taken, Kiknadze was transferred to the Ortachala district of Tbilisi. There, he was subjected to a series of harrowing experiences.

According to Kiknadze, the police struck him on the head in the car during his detention. Upon his arrival, he was threatened with planting illegal items - including drugs and a gun - to prolong his prison sentence. One officer threatened him with an enema tube or a champagne bottle, while another suggested using gloves for the threatened sexual violence.

These threats were accompanied by demands for Kiknadze to write false testimonies implicating opposition leaders in his participation in the protests and the use of fireworks. Kiknadze, however, refused to comply.

His lawyer, Archil Museliantsi, stated that his client was shown photos of Georgian opposition leaders and told he would be released if he spoke out against any of them. Despite these pressures, Kiknadze denies the charges against him.

The prosecution's evidence against Kiknadze includes a video and a forensic photo-analysis report, according to the Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI). He was accused of participating in group violence, a crime punishable by up to six years in prison.

As of now, Kiknadze has not spent a single day outside prison since the beginning of his arrest. For those seeking updates on this ongoing case, it is recommended to consult current news sources for the latest developments.

Detainee in Georgia alleges police threats of forced anal rape and burial during custody.