One More Lawsuit Against Bacho Akhalaia

Father of Marad Artmelidze, killed during special-operation near Samgori Metro-Station in Tbilisi on January 12, 2006, intends to lodge a lawsuit vs former Minister of Interior Bacho Akhalaia.

Father Mikheil Artmelidze said he appealed to law enforcement institutions several times but in vain.

Mikheil Artmelidze requests the new government to charge Bacho Akhalaia for his son’s murder.

“Bacho Akhalaia and his riot police officers killed my son and his two friends in order to scare inmates of prisoners. The killed boys were accused on intending coup in the prison. How could they enter and occupy the prison?! I demand ultimate punishment for Akhalaia,” said Mikheil Artmeladze.

Official motive of killing people in the special operation was their attempt to break into Rustavi prison. Official basis for the special operation was a letter, which was sent to the Ministry of Justice on the same day.

Search protocol of the accident scene states that 92 cartridges and a bullet were discovered in the area. Only five cartridges were identified. Investigation did not even try to examine other 87 cartridges.

According to the conclusion of complex criminalist expertise, examination of one of the killed persons proved that he was shot from the gun rested against his body. Other shots were made from the distance of 1-1, 5 meters. Based on these circumstances, Artmeladze’s father claims that his son was killed by control shot. “He had two bullet-shots in the right part of throat; two bullets in his left knee. It was cruel murder of innocent person.”

Despite the criminalist expertise conclusion in case materials, Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office concluded the special operation was lawful and dropped investigation. Parents of the dead people are not victims according to the case materials. European Court of Human Rights has already accepted application on this case.

One of the killed boys Roman Surmanidze was resident of Tsikhisdziri village in Kobuleti district. Other two - Marad Artmelidze and Shota Gorgadze were residents of Khulo district and group-mates. They studied at medical faculty of Batumi State University.

Human Rights Center published an article about this accident on April 9, 2009 (see: http://www.humanrights.ge/index.php?a=main&pid=7594&lang=eng ).

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara