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Court returned the Case of Killed Sergeant Roin Shavadze to the Investigation

October 31, 2008

Roin Shavadze, a Batumian Sergeon was killed on August 16 by the representatives of Special Unit for having allegedly trying to escape when the Special Unit was trying to arrest Shavadze. After Shavadze’s death a criminal case was launched against deceased sergeant for illegal purchase and selling of drugs. According to the investigation materials during Shavadze’s search the police found one, 2,5- gram of an controlled drug, with Latin name subotex (subotex is a narcotic by Georgian legislation) and 0,97 grams of the grey powder was found wrapped in a sheet of paper.

According to Georgian legislation when an accused dies a criminal case is closed against him/her. Hence, Davit Charbadze, the Adjara Autonomous Republic prosecutor suspended the criminal case against Roin Shavadze on September 13. However, Shavadze’s family is fully convinced that Shavadze was innocent and lodged an appeal to Batumi City Court and demanded that the criminal case on Shavadze alleged criminal activity be investigated till the end.

The Batumi City Court upheld Shavadze’s family’s appeal and returned the case to be fully investigated.

“Roin was not involved with drugs. We want that the investigation proves that my husband was innocent,” stated Tsitsino Shavadze, the wife of the deceased soldier.

Roin Shavadze was listed in 23rd Battalion and fought in Tskhinvali during Russian-Georgian war. He was detained by the Special Unit near gold exchange point on Zviad Gamsakhurdia Street, Batumi on August 16, 2008. The eyewitnesses say 20 men in masks attacked Roin Shavadze dropped him on the ground and beat him severely.

However, his death body when delivered to the family had signs of severe torture, and the circumstances of his death are open to speculation as to state-sanctioned human rights violations, and may be connected to his activity during the period in Tskhinvali; he had only returned to Batumi a few days after the end of hostilities in the South Ossetian conflict zone.

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi


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