Oleg Melnikov Alleges He Was Tortured in Ukrainian Prison

Salome Chkheidze

On September 13, former senior official of the Constitutional Security Department of the MIA, Oleg Melnikov, extradited to Georgia from Ukraine, appeared at the trial on Sandro Girgvliani’s murder case. The accused person said he was in inhuman conditions in Ukrainian prison, was tortured and intimidated there.

On October 15, Tbilisi City Court held hearing on the criminal case against Data Akhalaia, Oleg Melnikov, Soso Topuridze and Gia Alania. Accused Oleg Melnikov said he is innocent and added that he was arrested through procedural violations in Ukraine; he was brought to the court for imposing the preventive measure after a delay.

“They have completely different penitentiary establishments there. The windows do not have glasses. There was no chair and no table in the cell. The water supply was cut off during the whole day. Once somebody warned me to be calm and showed a photo of my wife and a child crossing the street. I promised him to be calm. Georgian prosecutors arrived and interrogated me; they asked if I wanted to send some message to my mother. After my arrival here, I learned that they had visited my 75-year-old mother and warned her unless I am patient, a long term imprisonment will be imposed on me. Thieves visited my wife, introduced themselves as Georgian thieves and frightened her,” Melnikov said and requested the judge to question his wife and mother. 

Melnikov was extradited to Georgia on September 21. According to the MIA, On December 7, 2012 Ukrainian law enforcers detained former official of MIA Constitutional Security Department -Oleg Melnikov (DoB 1966) in Kiev, Ukraine on the bases of information provided by the Georgian Bureau of Interpol. Detainee is accused of exceeding official powers that has inflicted a substantial damage to the right of person and insulting a dignity of a victim, (article 333 III part, B and C sub-paragraphs).

In addition Oleg Melnikov was also accused in connection with the case of murder of Sandro Girgvliani for illegal restriction of freedom perpetrated in group by prior consent (article 24-143, I and II parts, sub-paragraphs A, B and G) envisaged by the Criminal Code.

Next trial is scheduled on October 28 when issue of evidence survey will be discussed. The defense side intends to raise solicitation on canceling Melnikov’s imprisonment.