Web Portal on Human Rights in Georgia

Members of “Georgian Dream”, who were arrested during Karaleti incident, were tortured in pre-trial detention, said lawyer Tedo Kobakhidze at a press-conference today. Kakhi Kaladze, one of the leaders of coalition “Georgian Dream”, also attended the press-conference.

According to Kobakhidze, the high-ranking officials from Special Operations Department (SOD), Constitutional Security Department (CSD), and Ministry of Internal Affairs threatened Tsotne Shengelia, one of Kakhi Kaladze’s body guards who were taken in Kutaisi after he was arrested, that if he continued to be in contact with Kakhi Kaladze and coalition “Georgian Dream”, they would liquidate him and his family.

According to the lawyer, after refusal, the high-ranking officials put hand-cuffs on Tsotne Shengelia and told him that if he resistances they would shoot him. At present, Tsotne Shengelia is in the Telavi isolation ward and is starving because he supposes himself as an illegal prisoner.

According to Tedo Kobkhidze, Kakha Gogiashvili, the activist of “Georgian Dream” is in the worst condition as they gave him only water during three days after he was arrested and was not allowed to sleep as he had to meet his lawyers. He is in the Sagarejo pre-trial detention.

According to Kobakhidze they make Gogiashvili curse Bidzina Ivanishvili and Kakhi Kaladze and they allowed Gogiashvili to sleep for only three hours after he met with his lawyers. Vladimer Janezashvili, the third arrested person, is in better condition and has not made any claims to lawyers yet.

As Kakhi Kaladze stated all three persons are arrested for political reasons.  He and the leaders of “Georgian Dream” ask the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and international organizations to respond to this fact.

On July 15, four activists of “Georgian dream” and two internally displaced people were arrested in connection with the Karaleti incident. They were sentenced to 15 days of imprisonment by Gori court.