United Nations High Commission for the Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed its concerns about the actions taken by the Cyprus Police to file criminal charges against Sylvain Faloubiyissane, a national of Ivory Coast granted refugee status by the government of Cyprus in 2009.

According to a press release issued Tuesday by the Representation of the UNHCR in Cyprus, Faloubiyissane “was hospitalised for more than 15 days following violence and abuse he said he suffered on 27 November 2013 in Nicosia in the hands of certain police officers”.

UNHCR says that the Minister of Justice ordered an immediate investigation by the Independent Authority for the Investigation of Allegations and Complaints against the Police and conclusion of their report within one month, adding that four months later, Mr. Faloubiyissane has not been informed of the outcome of those investigations.

“Instead, he is now being charged as the aggressor who beat up and caused bodily harm to a police officer”, the statement says.

UNHCR calls on all concerned “to ensure that the investigations on the complaints made by Mr. Faloubiyissane against the police are completed without any further delay rather than accusing the victim”.