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Giga Bukia’s Property Sold at the Auction

August 14, 2012
Although the government promised every political party will have equal election conditions in Georgia, oppression on the members and supporters of the Coalition Georgian Dream continues.

State institutions fined Giga Bukia, majoritarian candidate of the Coalition Georgian Dream in Khobi district, with 190 000 lari and sequestered his property. “Three months ago I donated 35 000 lari to the Conservative Party to cover the expenses of the Coalition. State Audit Office summoned me as a witness and requested clarification about the origin of the donated money. I verbally clarified to them that I had a credit line at the Bank of Georgia and had transferred the money from there. I was ready to provide them with the Notary document on my property if they needed. However, I was not summoned to the SAO and received a summon directly from the court which notified me that State Audit Office had appealed to them alleging I had no income and could not prove origin of the sum. I provided the court with the Notary’s notification on 200 000 lari which I owned. Judge gave only 7 minutes to me and my lawyer to provide evidence; they found me guilty without asking any questions and fined me with 167 000 lari. I appealed the verdict at the Appeal Court but in vain; finally my fine has amounted to 190 000 lari.”

Bukia, like many others, could not find justice in Georgia and has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

While Bukia is waiting for the Strasbourg judgment, the state has sequestered his property and sold his house at the auction for 313 714 lari. Bukia said the price is much higher than his fine and requests to transfer remaining 120 000 lari to the account of the Georgian Dream.

Giga Bukia has already informed local and international organization about his problems.

Inga Gvasalia 

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