Investigation Launched against Parliament Vice-Speaker and His Brother

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara

Merab Gogoberidze, number one candidate of the Free Georgia in local self-governmental elections in Khelvachauri district, blames Parliament Vice-Speaker Murman Dumbadze and his brother in physical assault. The investigation was launched into the fact under Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. 

Merab Gogoberidze said he was talking with his acquaintances at the corner of Memed Abashidze and Asatiani streets in the first half of the day, when a car with state number DUM 777 stopped and Murman Dumbadze and his brother, Nugzar Dumbadze, got off. As Gogoberidze claims, they verbally and physically assaulted him. “Murman Dumbadze scolded me; his brother approached me and physically abused me. We quarreled and I called patrol police, who tried to find out details of our conflict.” Gogoberidze added that the incident was video-recorded by the video-cameras installed in the street. 

The incident had eye-witnesses. Journalist Emzar Diasamidze of Adjara TV-Company said he and Gogoberidze were talking when the incident happened. “I was standing together with Merab Gogoberidze and we were talking. Murman Dumbadze drove by us; initially he insulted us, and then his brother Nugzar Dumbadze got off the car and Merab Gogoberidze and he started physical controversy. Murman Dumbadze did not participate in it.”

Lawyer of Adjara TV-Company Malkhaz Bolkvadze said he was standing between the quarreling people and managed to assuage them. “I stood between them and …… The incident finished soon and Dumbadzes left the place soon.”

It was impossible to contact the vice speaker Murman Dumbadze; he did not answer phone calls.

Human Rights Center called the MIA. Representative of the Press Center at MIA Ana Chitanava said that investigation had started into the fact. “Based on the reported information, the MIA started investigation under Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.” The article is about battery or other physical violence, that is punishable by fine  or by socially useful labour  for the term of one hundred and twenty to one hundred and eighty hours or by corrective labour for the term not exceeding fifteen months or by jail sentence of up to two months in length.