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Activists of Public Assembly were Attacked

May 19, 2011
Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

The Public Assembly has planned to hold protest rallies with the request of changing government on May 21st. Three days before the start of protest rallies, the activists of Public Assembly were attacked in Sagarejo Region.

The incident took place at night on May 18th near the village Patardzeuli of Sagarejo region. The people in masks fired at the car of Public Assembly representatives. The car was forcefully stopped. The attackers put the cellophane bags on the heads of opposition activists, then tied their hands and legs, seized their telephones, beat them and then left them in the field.

“We were coming back from Tbilisi. Before approaching Patardzeuli, the car of Special Forces overtook us. They were in masks. They stopped us threatening with guns. When we stopped the car, they got out of their car and started to beat us. They smashed our car, tied our hands and legs, put cellophane bags on our heads and put us in their car. They took us to the field about 150 meters afar from the road and beat us there,” – states Niko Baghatrishvili who was driving the car where the Public Assembly activists sat.

According to him, later the sufferers managed to untie themselves, went up to the road and contacted police. “Police came late,” – adds Baghatrishvili.

The members of Public Assembly Telavi organization 35-year old Davit Jorjadze and 46-year old Khvicha Urchukhishvili were injured as a result of the attack. The Sagarejo Regional Hospital provided initial medical treatment for them.

“Urchukhishvili and Jorjadze were brought to the hospital at about 8:00 pm by the ambulance car. Urchukhishvili was observed to have bruises of chest area. Jorjadze had a wound in the back of the head. The doctors provided medical help and they left the hospital in half an hour. There was no serious damage,” – stated the chief doctor of the hospital Maia Anuashvili.

Sagajero Police started investigation on the fact of attach on activists of Public Assembly. The Sagarejo Regional Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs does not comment on this issue.

The Assembly disseminated a statement regarding the fact of attack on Public Assembly.

“Government knows that no force can hinder the lawful request of people who will gather on May 21st. That is why three days before the protest rally the government resorts to physical harassment. I am sure that the orders like the one fulfilled against the representatives of Public Assembly are not fulfilled by the majority of police officials. The special brigades are protecting the criminal government of Saakashvili,” – reads the statement.

“Now we will fight more devotedly and more people will join us. We will fight till the end and reach our goals,” – stated the head of Kakheti Regional Organization Jemal Baghatrishvili.

Public Assembly states that Saakashvili government is approaching the dead end every day.

“Saakashvili and his surrounding are in agony. They cannot hinder the action planned for May 21st. On May 21st the crucial fight will start against this government and it will end by our victory,” – notes the statement of the Assembly.

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