Human Rights Center Demands Immediate Reaction

The Human Rights Center (HRIDC) is deeply concerned about the suppression and mass persecution of voters and supporters of the opposition parties. The government permanently tries to prevent opposition parties from organizing sufficient pre-election campaign. Activists from opposition parties are abused, threatened, arrested every day.

The Human Rights Center appeals to the international organizations to response to pre-election terror in Georgia. Here we provide several facts of terror observed recently in Georgia.

Police Detained Member of the Egalitarian Institute

Mikheil Kachkachishvili, member of the non-governmental organization Egalitarian Institute was detained by patrol police last week. Fikria Chikhradze, single mandate candidate from the United Opposition in Telavi stated that law enforcers detained Kachkachishvili when he was on his way to a meeting with locals in the Telavi district the next morning.

“They stopped the car of Kachkhachishvili and when we asked why pulled us over, they were only willing to say that he looked suspicious,” said Chikhradze. Moreover, he added that it seems that detention of Kachkachishvili shows that the government is trying to obstruct scheduled meetings of opposition members and these are part of the pre-election campaign.
 
Kachkachishvili was taken for a drug test. The test proved that he was not under influence of a controlled substance.

Nino Petriashvili, wife of the detainee, stated that she was driving the car and she had noticed the police car following them since early morning. “Since Misha (Kachkachishvili) was released, patrol police fined him for having parked the car in the wrong place. The police should have had complaints about breaking traffic rules with me, as it was not my husband who was driving,” explained Nino Petriashvili.

Lecturers of the Telavi State University Were Ordered to File Resignation Letters

Representatives of the National Movement, Telavi Municipality Board and Kakheti Regional Administration oppress lecturers and student of Telavi Iakob Gogebashvili State University. Several teachers have already filed resignation letters; they are Archil Jorjadze, coordinator of the Legal Faculty, Neli Tskitishvili, associated professor and head of the Rector’s Administration.

Both of them support the United Opposition. They have been particularly suppressed since they met Fikria Chikhradze, single mandate candidate of the United Opposition in Telavi, together with other lecturers. Archil Jorjadze stated that Giorgi Papunashvili, the head of the United National Movement’s  Telavi office, threatened him with physical abuse and detention. In addition to that, Jorjadze was ordered to file resignation letter; otherwise the legal faculty at the University would be canceled and he and his colleagues would lose jobs soon.

Students Who Support United Opposition Were Threatened with Dismissal from the University

Students of the Telavi State University are suppressed. Ia Metreveli, a student of the legal faculty, reported Farna Makashvili, Imeda Kevlishvili and other members of the National Movement threatened students supporting the united opposition with the dismissal.

Local TV Stations Deny Single Mandate Candidates from TV Statements

Merab Katamadze, single mandate candidate of the Republic Party in Akhmeta District, states that because of being suppressed from the local authorities, two Akhmeta district based TV Stations refused to air his pre-election campaign to the local population.

Katamadze reported that despite the length of the initial order, local cable TV Company “Kakheti” released the text supporting the candidate in the subtitles for only two days. On the third day it was cancelled.  

“Currently the subtitles have completely disappeared because of technical problems, as they claim and its restoration will take another two weeks. I think they say it because of approving their behavior. As for Akhmeta TV Station, they refused to present my pre-election campaign because the TV Company was founded by the District Administration and budget has not apportioned any money to fund the pre-election campaign. However, TV Company Akhmeta actively demonstrates the meetings of Petre Tsiskarishvili, single mandate candidate from the ruling party with voters,” said Katamadze.

The candidate from the Republican Party claims that local authorities have suppressed media sources though Koba Burkiashvili, the district governor, denies it.

The administration of local TV Companies denies the accusations of the single mandate candidate. Davit Bagauri, the owner of the cable TV Station “Kakheti” told that it will take nearly two weeks to deliver equipment from the Ukraine which is needed in order to renew subtitles on the TV channel. Fati Turkiashvili, director of the “Akhmeta TV” stated that the TV Company was really founded by the district administration and they are unable to decide anything without them.

“Besides that we do not have journalists who will do the needed work. We mostly transmit programs from Rustavi 2. Sometimes we show our own items too but we do not now prepare news programs whatsoever. We do not have the technical and human resources for such activities,” stated Turkiashvili. He added that they have already actually aired several items that demonstrate Petre Tsiskarishvili’s pre-election activities.

Brother of the Deputy Internal Minister and Head of the Constitutional Security Department’s (CSD) Kakheti Division Threaten Supporters of Republic Party

On May 4 a concert was given in the support of Petre Tsiskarishvili, a single mandate candidate of the National Movement in Akhmeta district. On the same day, when young members of the election HQ of Merab Kantaria a candidate from the Republic Party, finished distribution of the materials and were on their ways home, Tengiz Ekvtimishvili, a member of the National Movement, met them and told to Berdzenishvili, a young girl from Republic Party: “I am sent to meet you and warn that unless you give up working for Katamadze your father will be arrested.”

On May 2, Davit Lortkifanidze, deputy head of the Telavi Department of the CSD, called Zura Narozauli who hosted Merab Katamadze in Telavi and warned him not to meet the candidate of the opposition party. On the same day Lortkifanidze invited Besarion Makishvili, a member of Katamadze’s election HQ, to his office and demanded to leave the HQ. otherwise Lortkifanidze warned Makishvili to fire from the job. The latter is a driver for the non-governmental organization “Center for the Victims of Torture” in Akhmeta Office.

Head of Akhmeta Police Department and His Deputy Threatened Opposition Activists

Human Rights Center was informed that Zurab Pilashvili, the head of the police department invited Temur Kvirikashvili, member of the Republican Party and Election HQ of Merab Katamadze, a single mandate candidate in Akhmeta, to the police station. Pilashvili demanded him to leave the HQ. In exchange Pilashvili promised Kvirikashvili that he could assist his son to get into the Police Academy and to employ him at the police station too. If Kvirikashvili refused his offer, he could have some problems.

Malkhaz Khubejashvili, deputy head of Akhmeta police station, visited the Mosiashvilis-mother, daughter and son, activists from Merab Katamadze’s election HQ in the village of Matani in Akhmeta district. He told them that if they do not stop relationship with Merab Katamadze, suspended sentence of Zurab Mosiashvili, their nearest relative, would be burdened and he would be detained again.

According to the activists Merab Khubejashvili threatened them with weapon.     

Source: Human Rights Center

Sighnaghi Police Hassles Election Commission Opposition Party Members

Several days ago, Sighnaghi police arrested Besik Khataishvili, commission member of the Bodbishkhevi election district in Sighnaghi Election Precinct, and a representative of Republic Party. Tengiz Bezhashvili, lawyer for Khatiashvili, reported that police detained his client based on the appeal of Tamila Dzmanashvili. Tengiz is the head of the Union of Sport Service Departments in Sighnaghi District Administration. Dzmanashvili brought a suit against former employee in same department for having made a personal insult. As he stated in his appeal, Besik Khatiashvili demanded to see documents justifying the dismissal and then proceeded to insult his client.

Based on official data, Khataishvili was running the box division in Sport’s Department. He was discharged from this position on April 5, 2008. Khataishvili stated that the reason for his dismissal was his membership in Republician Party. However, based on the Georgia Labor Law, Khatiashvil, hei had right to appeal to the court with the demand to be restored to his former position until May 7. “Consequently, I visited Tamila Dzmanashvili at the office on May 5 and asked her to provide document on my dismissal. However, she refused. Then I categorically demanded for her to provide the requested document but she then refused for a second time. I explained to Dzmanashvili that she was breaking the law and it was possible for me to take her to court over this violation. She only laughed at me and I then left the office. Soon the police were involved. Dzmanashvili stated to the police officers that I had insulted her, cursed or said something like that was not to her liking. Other employees also confirmed her testimony. Law enforcers arrested me on the same day. The police interrogated me and accused me of having committed a crime,” said Besik Khatiashvili.

Zaza Khatiashvili, single mandate candidate from the Republic Party in Sighnaghi district, stated that the local authorities and the National Movement, with the support of the police, terrorize his supporters. “The village of Bodbishkhevi is one of the difficult election districts in the Sighnaghi election precinct. Evidently, they could not win Besik Khatiahsivli over by bribing him or through various tricks. The only option was to take out their revenge against him by various methods. Now he would be labeled the status of suspect for the next one month, which will enable the ruling party to influence him. If he resists them, he will be found guilty and police will arrest him,” said Zaza Khatiahsvili.

Criminal case was launched under the Georgian Criminal Code, Article 239, Paragraph I and it envisages one-year-imprisonment.

Whole Edition of Regional Newspaper Was Canceled in Sighnaghi

Nugzar Abulashvili, a single mandate candidate from the National Movement in Sighnaghi district ordered to cancel whole edition of the Kakheti regional newspaper “Imedi” on May 1.

Employees of the editorial office stated they were informed from their Sighnaghi office the newspapers had disappeared from the news agency booths. Reportedly, members of the ruling party bought whole circulation of the newspaper and destroyed them. The issues were canceled from distribution network  There was an article about Nugzar Abulashvili’s criminal records in the May 1 edition of the newspaper “Imedi”.

An Employ of the Security Department Threatened Commission Member

The Human Rights Center was informed by the Sighnaghi district election HQ in the United Opposition local policemen and members of the local administration suppressed their representatives to the district election commissions. The reported policemen attacked Nineli Lomashvili, member of the District Election Commission #3 of Sighnaghi Election Precinct, at home and warned to leave the commission otherwise her family members would be arrested. According to the opposition Tsitsishvili, an employ of the Security Department, took part in the harassment. In addition to that, neighbors of the commission members from opposition parties was told that because of their stubborn neighbors their villages would not be supplied with water, gas and have other problems resolved. Consequently, the neighbors have serious argument now.

Teachers Were Forbidden To Meet Candidates from Opposition Parties

Teachers of the Public Schools were forbidden to meet candidates of the opposition parties.

The Human Rights Center was informed that school directors gave similar directions to their teachers in the name of heads of local educational resource centers and district organizations of national movement. Besides that, teachers were ordered to attend the meetings with the candidates from ruling party regardless their own sympathy to any political party.

Unless the order is followed, the director should write his personal resignation. 

Office of the United Opposition Was Raided in Akhaltsikhe

In the morning of May 16 members of the Akhaltsikhe branch of the United Opposition arrived at the office and found windows smashed and posters torn from the walls.

Valiko Baliashvili, single mandate candidate from the United Opposition in Akhaltsikhe District, stated booklets, election materials and election lists were seized from the office.

 Gulo Kokhodze, Akhaltsikhe

An Incident in Metekhi

Jemal Patarkalishvili, governor of the village of Metekhi in Kaspi district, attacked the family of Temkadzes in the village and made them not to support the United Opposition under force and verbal assault.

Khatuna Tatanashvili, a single mandate candidate from the United Opposition in Kaspi district, reported to the Human Rights Center, the village governor was drunk then. He insulted Maia Temkadze, the mother and her daughters, Lana, Natia and Eka Temkadzes. Moreover, he intended to hit the people by car.

Candidate Complains About Suppression and Unequal Conditions

Tamar Gogoladze, single mandate candidate from Republic Party in ZAkhaltsikhe District, complains about suppression sixteen days before the elections.

“Commission members are invited to various institutions to give instructions. I know who invite them and if they do not stop it I will announce the names of those people publicly. The cars are also blocked. Drivers told me they are warned not to drive us anywhere. The local TV Station belongs to the candidate from the National Movement and we cannot use TV air,” said Gogoladze

Members of Republic Party in Kutaisi Speak About Suppression

On May 8 Vladimer Nakashidze, chairperson of the Kutaisi organization of the Republic Party, saw several letters on his table. Commission members from their party informed him about resignation in those letters.

“the number of abuse and suppression is increasing. They come and write their resignation letters. When I inquire about reason they explain it is only because of serious suppression from the chairperson of the commissions and policemen as well. I was sorry for those people who were writing their letters with tears in eye. They are so frightened that do not wish to make details public,” said Vladimer Nakashidze.

According to him “policeman met Leila Makharoblidze, a commission member, and asked why she had joined Republic Party. Afterwards he advised her to leave the party and gave his mobile number to call him later. Next morning policemen arrived Makharoblidze at home and informed they were looking for a lost TV-set which was supposedly stolen by her son. Although at home they found TV Set of Sonny and not lost LG, they arrested the son. The policemen have not returned the TV Set yet. The detainee was released after his mother “promised to behave well.”

People of the election HQ of the Republic Party stated they have already informed international organizations about violations and expect them to express their own reaction on the situation.