Tolerance and Diversity Institute

News
TDI
Feb/1901

Court found a person guilty in racial discrimination case

On January 31, 2019, Rustavi District Court passed the verdict of guilty on racial discrimination case that took place on November 29, 2018 in Rustavi City. On the day of the incident, the citizen of Cameroon was verbally and physically assaulted by a stranger on ground of racial intolerance while travelling by a public bus.

During the court hearing, the accused pleaded guilty of the crime and apologised the victim for his misconduct. According to the verdict passed by court, the accused has been found guilty of the crime according to Article 142 (1) section 2, subsection “a” of Criminal Code of Georgia (racial discrimination committed with using violence or threat of violence dangerous for life or health). The accused was sentenced to deprivation of liberty for 3 years and was imposed conditional sentence on a probation.  

Citizen of the Republic of Cameroon was traveling by public transport in Rustavi City, when one of the passengers assaulted him verbally and physically because of the color of skin.  In particular, the perpetrator was using hate speech, telling the victim that in Georgia there was no place for him, and also, was calling him “Zangi” (N-word). Along with verbal insult, the perpetrator hit the victim several times in the area of head. After getting off the micro-bus, the offender continued verbal and physical abuse in the street.  

The victim managed to video-record part of the incident. The recording was then spread by media.

The Rustavi City Division of Kvemo Kartli Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia started the investigation under Article 126, paragraph 1 (Violence) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which later was requalified by Rustavi District Prosecutor according to Article 142 (1) - racial discrimination.

TDI represents the interests of the victim.

 

Also on this case: POLICE ARRESTED THE PERSON ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CHARGES

http://tdi.ge/en/news/644-police-arrested-person-racial-discrimination-charges 

RACIALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE WAS QUALIFIED AS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

http://tdi.ge/en/news/642-racially-motivated-violence-was-qualified-racial-discrimination  

 

TDI provides legal aid in the frame of the project “Combating Religious, Ethnic and Racial Discrimination in Georgia” in the framework of East-West Management Institute’s (EWMI) Promoting Rule of Law in Georgia Program (PROLoG) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)