Oppositionist Member of Khelvachauri Municipal Board Is Under Political Pressure

Suliko Mikeladze –the oppositionist member of Khelvachauri municipal board states that he might be arrested. Oleg Mikeladze-the investigator of Khelvachauri police department contacted him by telephone and asked to appear at the questioning as whiteness in the case launched under Article 362 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

On August 23Suliko Mikeladze and Irakli Shavadze-his lawyer held a briefing in Batumi office of the Democratic Engagement Center regarding this case.

According to Mikeladze, the investigation is underway about the appeal of oppositionist members of the municipal board filed to the municipal board on August 6. They protested the incident which occurred on Shuamtoba festival in Beshumi. The oppositionists declared in their statements that they would not attend the municipal board meetings. Vakhtang Kakhidze’s name is among undersigned applicants (the municipal board member of Christian-Democratic Movement), but his signature is not in the statement at all. Consequently, the investigation is going to identify whether the signature was falsified or not.

“I evaluate this fact as the fabricated blame of government to intimidate me. Hence I appeal to the non-governmental sector to monitor ongoing investigation process,” Suliko Mikeladze said.

Irakli Shavadze is Suliko Mikeladze’s lawyer. According to Shavadze joint statement of oppositionist members of the board and their signatures is not crime envisaged under Article 362 of the Criminal Code of Georgia: “This statement is not an official document, consequently it does not give any right to Vakhtang Kakhidze and his rights are not violated. Hence the investigation on this fact refers to the political pressure on Mikeladze”.

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara