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Human Rights Centre requests Prosecutor’s Office to question convict

October 3, 2014
 
Nino Akhobadze 

Human Rights Centre requests the Prosecutor’s Office to question Teimuraz Gvaradze in presence of his lawyer; the convict claims he is former sniper, former lifeguard of ex-president Saakashvili and has significant information about Zurab Zhvania’s death fact and about so called Lapankuri special operation. Representatives of Human Rights Centre made a statement during the press-conference in the Press-Club of Prime Time on 30 September.. 

Human Rights Centre defends rights of the convict Teimuraz Gvaradze, who serves his sentence in Gldani prison #8. 

The prisoner told his lawyer that he served in secret division. Teimuraz Gvaradze said that in 2012 during imprisonment three persons visited him in prison and asked him to take part in the special operation, namely to liquidate terrorists during exchange of gunfire. After the special operation Gvaradze was taken back to the penitentiary establishment. Teimuraz Gvaradze claims he personally observed ongoing Lapankuri special operation and as a witness can give significant information to the investigation. 

On November 15, 2012 Teimuraz Gravadze was released from imprisonment. He said after release he was under permanent oppression because he had significant information and was serious threat for certain people. 

In May 2013, Teimuraz Gvaradze was repeatedly arrested for thievery and as he claims he was tortured to get his confession statement. Currently, Supreme Court is processing his case. 

The convict claims he has significant information about Zurab Zhvania’s death. Although the lawyer of Human Rights Center addressed to the Prosecutor’s Office with the request to question prisoner Gvaradze several times, the prosecutor’s office refuses to question him in presence of the lawyer. Nestan Londaridze, lawyer at Human Rights Centre, attorney of Teimuraz Gvaradze: “The convict informed us that he was soldier of the special division and is specially trained sniper. He was taken from prison to take part in Lapankuri special operation. He was ordered to liquidate terrorists during crossfire. Gvaradze claims he has full information about special operation and can give complete and exhaustive information to the investigation. Besides that Teimuraz Gvarazde states he has information about Zurab Zhvania’s death fact and is ready to make statement to the investigation. He only wants his lawyer to attend the interrogation process. We sent first petition to the Prosecutor’s Office in April 2014, but they did not answer. I repeatedly addressed to the Prosecutor’s Office and asked to question him in my presence and received quit uncertain answer”. 

Human Rights Centre again addresses to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia to question Teimuraz Gvaradze in presence of his lawyer and to check the facts and circumstances the convicted person is speaking about. In addition to that, torture and inhuman treatment facts against the prisoner should be investigated and his safety shall be guaranteed as his life is in danger as a witness.  

Executive director of Human Rights Centre Aleko Tskitishvili: “Human Rights Centre is dedicating second press-conference to the case, also we have addressed to the Prosecutor’s Office numerous times, but still there is no respond. The citizen’s right to give testimony as a witness is violated. The prisoner informed us that an investigator from Prosecutor’s Office met him asked about Zurab Zhvania’s case But did not want the lawyer to attend their conversation.  The convict refused to give testimony without attorney and said that he would issue all information only in presence of his lawyer”. 

Aleko Tskitishvili added that it is unclear why prosecutor’s office does not get interested in the allegation of a person, who claims to have significant information about high profile case. 

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