What if the officer is not in uniform and I am not sure they are real?
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Your right — demand the service ID. This is directly stated in Art. 18, cl. 3 of the Law "On Police": if the officer cannot be identified as police by external signs (no uniform, an unmarked vehicle), they are obliged to present a document confirming their authority.
What to look for on the ID:
- photo, full name, rank;
- Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) emblem/stamp;
- validity date.
What to look for around them:
- a patrol car nearby (even if they didn't emerge from it, one is usually parked somewhere close);
- a badge or emblem (patrol police wear them on the chest);
- willingness to name their unit and call their supervisor.
If there is no ID / it was not shown / it looks suspicious:
- Do not go anywhere with them. Do not get into their car.
- Call 112 and say: "People claiming to be police are stopping me but not showing ID. Please dispatch a patrol car for verification." This usually clarifies the situation immediately: a real officer will either show the document or be discouraged by the call (meaning they are not real).
- If the person starts to walk away or threatens you — start recording video (in this situation openly and with narration) and call 112 again.
Impersonation of police in Georgia is rare but does occur — especially in tourist areas of Tbilisi and Batumi. A real police officer does not take offence at a request to show ID — it is standard procedure.