Chamber of Control Persecutes People for Distributing Georgian Dream’s Newspapers

Inga Gvasalia, Samegrelo

More than 20 people received summons of the Chamber of Control in Poti. Among them are members of the Republic Party and activists, who distributed Georgian Dream’s newspapers. On March 13, the members of the Republic Party’s Poti office held briefing regarding the issue.

At the briefing, the chair of the local organization of the Republic Party Gaioz Kinkladze read the reply of the summoned citizens to Chamber of Control. It states: “I am ready to appear at the indicated place and provide you with any information I have. However, beforehand you should inform me which administrative offence I might be accused of and hand the relevant protocol and case materials which will prove my offence. Otherwise, I will not be able to completely enjoy my lawful rights.”

The members of the Republic Party said they have already sent the response letter to Natia Mogeladze, head of the party funding monitoring service at the Chamber of Control.

Gaioz Kinkladze said the Government tries to scare the society. “It is intimidation of people and their family members, who are involved in political activities or intend to participate in it. Mostly, summons were sent to those people, who distributed newspapers and collected signatures for the restoration of Ivanishvili and his wife’s Georgian citizenships. Simultaneously, the summons were sent to the people, who are not involved in this process at all. For example, my family members did. It is intimidation of the Georgian society. It is interesting that the notifications do not mention any article or fact which became basis for summoning those people. The document is not written on the blank of the Chamber of Control; it does not have registration number and date.”

“Distribution of newspapers and collection of signatures is part of normal political process. When the government fights against it, it fights against democratic basis of civic development. So, we cannot speak about democracy of our government at all but their recent activities have already become insulting for the society. They not only intimidate people but tries to convince everybody that Georgia does not have future with this authority and nobody can live in this country,” Gia Goginava from the Republic Party said.

Tamaz Soselia and his wife are not going to appear before the Chamber of Control. He is not member of any political party. Soselia believes his rights were breached when he was summoned to the interrogation. “Maybe, any citizen, who reads Georgian Dream’s newspaper, will be interrogated. I cannot understand why the Chamber of Control is interrogating people in the City Hall. I have not appeared there and am not going to either because I have nothing to declare. I can directly confess that it was my initiative to distribute 8 000 newspapers. I agree with Ivanishvili’s views and considered myself obliged to distribute his newspapers.”

The interrogated people said they were searched together with intimidation and psychological oppression. Most questions were asked about Ivanishvili’s citizenship and funding in the name of the Chamber of Control.

Tamar Zhvania is one of them, who was questioned in the Poti City Hall administration building. She said the interrogation lasted 90 minutes and before that she was strictly searched. “I am not member of the Republic Party. I am ordinary citizen but I also received summon. They asked me why I went to the party office and distributed newspapers. I told them how I distributed newspapers and collected signatures. They asked whether I had compelled citizens to sign the petition for the restoration of Ivanishvili’s citizenship but I replied to them that everybody signed the petitioned based on their own wish. They asked how many signatures we had collected and how much I was paid for it. They also inquired why I joined the party which is funded from Russia. I really do not know the source of their funding. I did my job and received a salary. It was living source for my family. I am unemployed and nobody can intimidate me for having performed this job. Before entering the interrogation room, they checked everything – my belongings, they even made me remove my air-ring. I left all metal things outside the room; they also made me remove shoes and searched them. It was very hard.”

What is the reason of this turmoil and who has ordered the officials of the Chamber of Control to interrogate citizens? Head of Poti City Hall administration Maka Zarandia could not answer this question but in private talks she said: “We were instructed to do it but I do not know reasons. We do not interfere in the competence of the Chamber of Control.”