Roland Meskhi Appointed First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs

Until now, the position of First Deputy to Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri was held by Shalva Bedoidze. Bedoidze was sanctioned by the United Kingdom on April 10.
Gomelauri himself is under U.S. sanctions — he is included on the “Magnitsky List.”

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Roland Meskhi has served as Deputy Director of the Tbilisi Police Department since July 2021.

On April 21, during a protest on Rustaveli Avenue, Roland Meskhi was seen pulling the hair of 20-year-old student Nata Chiokidze.
Footage shows the officer approaching her from behind, grabbing her hair, and using force to try to prevent her movement.