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Basilashvili’s Family Blames Police Officer in Revenge

October 2, 2014
 
Lado Bichashvili, Shida Kartli

Police arrested Davit Basilashvili for administrative violation and disobedience to police officers on August 20, 2014. Court sentenced him to ten-day administrative imprisonment. After the detention, the family members claim police officer Samson Vanishvili from Shida Kartli regional police department physically assaulted Basilashvili in the Khashuri district pre-trial detention setting.

Medical conclusion issued by Shida Kartli region emergency service reads that Basilashvili had normal health conditions but the doctor noted that the patient complains of headache and pain in limbs as a result of physical assault.

The family submitted complaint against the police officer to the General Inspection of the MIA and enclosed the medical conclusion to it. As family members state Davit Basilashvili has become target of oppression. Samson Vanishvili threatened Basilashvili with sending him back to prison.

Gvantsa Basilashvili, sister: “My brother was serving his ten-day administrative term in Khashuri pre-trial detention setting, where he was physically abused. At 3:30 am he was unconscious taken to medical center by ambulance. Police officer Samson Vanishvili beat him and then warned not to inform anybody about the fact or he would arrange his repeated arrest. He kept his promise- my brother sued him for the physical assault but soon he was arrested.”

After ten-day administrative imprisonment, Davit Basilashvili was repeatedly arrested on September 26 under a new accusation. At night of September 6, police was reported about the damage of a pay box in Sukhishvili Street # 18 in Gori. Police launched criminal case under Article 177 Paragraph II and III of the Criminal Code of Georgia and 20 days later police officers arrested Davit Basilashvili in the Gori center under the charge of the attempted thievery. 

Basilashvili’s lawyer Tania Razmadze told humanrights.ge that prosecutor does not have evidence against her client and investigation relies on assumptions. The lawyer underlined that main witness of the investigation is police officer Samson Vanishvili, who is actual harasser and revenged the detainee.

Tania Razmadze, the lawyer: “Several months ago, police arbitrarily arrested my client and then beat him in pre-trial detention setting; my client sued the harasser and investigation started into the case. It became ground of revenge against him.”

On September 30, Judge Nino Gergauli at Gori district court held pre-trial session about the criminal case launched into the September 6 incident in Sukhishvili Street. Prosecutor Mikheil Eriashvili raised solicitation to use imprisonment as a preventive measure against Basilashvili. The prosecutor clarified that if not imprisoned, Basilashvili might hide from investigation and verified his argument by past criminal record on the accused person. 

The defense side solicited bail of 3 000 lari instead imprisonment. Lawyer Tania Razmadze said at the session that prosecutor’s statement relied on assumptions. As for past criminal record on the accused person, it was already cancelled as a result of pardoning. Accused Davit Basilashvili also made a statement at the session and said that he had not committed crime. “They should provide either video-recording or finger-prints as evidence. Allegedly police officers recognized me when running away from the scene of crime but could not arrest me immediately. Have you heard anyone escaped police officers lately?! I have not walked along that street for the past three months.”

Judge Nino Gergauli addressed to both parties to provide evidence and imposed bail of 5 000 lari on Basilashvili.

Humanrights.ge contacted the press-center of the MIA and inquired whether they have started query based on the complaint against police officer Samson Vanishvili. Representative of the MIA Press-Center Thea Mikhanashvili told humanrights.ge: “General Inspection has received complaint and query has already started. The MIA will react on the complaint in accordance to the conclusion of the General Inspection – if police officer deserves punishment, he will be punished but if he turns up right, we will protect his interests.”

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