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Chronicles of Facts of Pressure against Opposition Supporters

May 23, 2011

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

Different kinds of pressure mechanisms have been used against the opposition supporters from the regions in order to hinder them to join protest rallies in Tbilisi. The police officials have been the main source of intimidation.

On May 18th, in the evening the representatives of Public Assembly have been attacked. The incident took place at about 7:00 pm, near the village Patardzeuli. People in masks fired at the car of Public Assembly activists, put the cellophane parks on the heads of the oppositionists, tied their hands and legs, seized their telephones, beat them and then left them on the field. The members of Telavi organization of Public Assembly 35-year old Davit Jorjadze and 46-year old Khvicha Urchukhishvili were injured as a result of the attack. Sagarejo regional hospital provided the initial medical service for them.

On May 20th, Kakheti police took special alert. Police officials made a special warning to the drivers of mini-bus taxes to hinder them to transfer people to Tbilisi on May 21st.

On May 20th, the opposition supporters and drivers were deprived of cars in Telavi. Approximately 15 cars were taken to penalty parking. Law-enforcement officials did not explain the reason of seizure of cars. One of the drivers Ilia Vardosanidze stated: “I was not at home. When I came back my mini-bus was not in the yard. I went to the penalty parking where I was told that I had to pay fine and that is why they took it. They said they would give it back in several days. I was imposed with 100 GEL fine several weeks ago. The term of pay had not expired. Maybe they did not want me to bring people to the protest rally. On May 9th I rendered service to Georgian Party, I brought people to the protest rally and probably the government did not like it.”
On the same day, Soso Abuladze, the head of Telavi organization of Georgian Party and the coordinator of youth affairs were deprived of cars.

On May 20th, in the village Matani of Akhmeta region, some unknown individuals cut the wheels of the car of one of the supporters of Public Assembly.

On May 21st, at 7:00 pm in the morning, Public Assembly supporter Giorgi (Nodar) Piralishvili was kidnapped from the surroundings of his house. “On Saturday, in the morning, my dad drove away goats to the garden. When he did not appear for several hours, we inquired for him. Our neighbors told us that the policemen took him out of the garden, put him in the car and left. I went to Gurjaani police. They did not have any information. I addressed the Office of Prosecutor and the Court, but they did not tell me anything. I looked for him in vain for the whole day long. The Main Regional Agency of Kakheti of Ministry of Internal Affairs called and told us that my dad was in Telavi, in the temporary detainment cell. Then I found out that three-month imprisonment has been imposed on him due to insulting the law-enforcement officials,” – stated Mikheil Piralishvili. The law-enforcement officials composed the protocol of administrative violation according to article 173 of Code of Administrative Offences which envisaged the disobedience to the lawful order or requirement of the law-enforcement officials. This article envisages fine of 400 GEL or correctional works starting from one month up to six months, 20% deduction of the salary and lastly – if considering the case circumstances and the personality of the violator these measures are insufficient – then administrative imprisonment up to 90 days. Giorgi Piralishvili was imposed with the highest imprisonment term – 90 days.

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