Approximately 60 People Are still Considered to be Missing – Neither Ministry of Internal Affairs nor the Ministry of Health Disseminates Information

“12 days passed since the protest disruption on May 26th. Some people are still considered to be missing. The NGOs are requesting the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to show interest in the fate of these people and issue information on their whereabouts,” – states the head of Solidarity to Illegal Prisoners Eka Beselia to the newspaper Rezonanci (Resonance) in the article entitled: “Approximately 60 People are still missing.”

“If the MIA does not have more victims than according to current information, they should be interested to thoroughly examine all information and present the ultimate real picture. We do not have the mechanisms to conduct examination. They are the only ones who can do it. Due to this uncertainty we have a legitimate doubt that they might be covering up the crime,” – states Eka Beselia.

“In this case, they might resort to the same manipulations as they did in case of Nika Kvintradze. The days might pass and we might come across dead people on the roof or in the river. The reason of concealing the traces of crime is to make it hard to ascertain the circumstances in which the person died. After a long time has passed it is hard to ascertain the age of the deceased. The witnesses state that more people were dying than reported four. This information has not been checked. There are suspicions in the society and they should answer it,” – states Eka Beselia and adds that she officially presented a list of 49 missing people to the MIA a week ago.

The ultimate list published by the organization Solidarity to Illegal Prisoners is such: Vasil Baradze, Lasha Chikvaidze, Mishiko Kervalidze, Zurab Lolua, Ruslan Nazriani, Kakha Molashkhia, Bachuki Gulbani, Roman Naskidashvili, Giorgi Bakuridze, Guja Bichashvili, Guram Petriashvili, Tamar Jobava, Rezo Khoperia, Lasha Bozhoradze, Davit Kaltelishvili, Gela Karkashadze, Aleko Tsintsadze, Soso Dzirkvelashvili, Marina Apriamashvili, Vato Natsvlishvili, Kakha Khimshiashvili, Iasha Zosidze, Karlo or Achiko Dumbadze, Temur Tsereteli, Nugzar Ugveladze, Mikheil Baridze, Gela Gvianadze, Davit Kupatadze, Aidmir Lagvilava, Tamaz Rosebashvili, Davit Azarashvili, Machaladze (first name is unknown), Gia Gurgenidze, Zura Khetsuriani, Zurab Bibilaia, Tamaz Tvirtishvili, Emzar Kvariani, Enver Andghuladze, Irakli Garsevanishvili, Zakaria Khurtsidze, Vagip Aliev, Beka Bendiashvili, Vazha Jamagidze, Kote Kuchava, Davit Loria, Nodar Tsintsadze, Davit Tarielidze, Lasha Bochoidze.

According to Beselia, relatives of only 13 missing persons contacted them and stated that they found the missing. These people are: Gia Natsvlishvili, Giorgi Rogava, Lasha Kekelidze, Mamka Sigua, Davit Kinkladze, Edemi Kankia, Vilhelm Makharadze, Mamuka Grdzelidze, Nana Kurdovanidze, Mamuka Nemsitsveridze, Ucha Dzidzikashvili, Iuri Kvaratskhelia and Mirza Kochadze.

The Democratic Movement also transferred the list of missing people to the newspaper Rezonansi. They consider 47 people to be missing. There are several names in this list differing from that of Eka Beselia: Beso Gabisonia, Bacho Gvaraia, Irakli Gdzelivanashvili, Ilia Kereselidze, Gela Mgeladze, Nachkebia (first name is unknown), Avto Rizhamadze, Besik Samsonashvi, Giorgi Tskhvariashvili, Valeri Khechiashvili.

The executive secretary of Democratic Movement Vakhtang Kolbaia states that the NGOs are daily comparing their lists but nothing can be said for 100% as there might be people who already appeared in the families but they are scared to show up. Kolbaia does not exclude that some people from the list were in the hospitals.

“The Ministry of Health has not made a public statement regarding the health of people yet. MIA also refuses to issue new data on the detainees and present information on the missing people. The only statement they made was that it does not consider anyone missing as a result of May 26th development. Beselia states that it has been a week now her organization transferred the list of missing to the MIA, but received no feedback,” – states the author of the article of Rezonansi.

“Several people called and said that their family members were found among the detainees. By the way, the last names of these people were not in the lists of MIA or Public Defender. Their family members still searched them in the detention cells but could not find them as they were transferred to different cities – Gori, Kutaisi and etc. Their family members were not notified about this. This is a law violation. The Code states that in case of detention the family or relative shall be informed about it. There were so many people hiding during those days and they appeared later. Why do not they issue the exact number of detainees and let public know whether or not these people are detained. But they refuse to do it as the number of detainees increases every day and plus they do not the public to know how many people they locked up in the prisons,” – stated Eka Beselia whith the newspaper correspondent.