The Government Continues Terrorizing its Population

The Government Continues Terrorizing its Population

Lives of Two People Fell Victim to the “Professionalism” of Law-Enforcement Bodies

The special operation that was meant to arrest Avtandil Gumashvili, suspected of murder, ended in tragedy. Two people died and four more were wounded as a result of the special operation conducted on 3 June in Duisi in the Pankisi Gorge with serious moral and material damage inflicted on the Gumashvili family whose house was destroyed as a result of the special operation. This is yet another example of an “unsuccessful” special operation carried out by law-enforcement bodies. Five people fell victim to the special operation that was carried out in Kutaisi in March 2004 with one of the victims an innocent passer-by.

Avtandil Gumashvili was suspected of attempted murder but, as his neighbours said, he was merely protecting the sanctity of his family and was not a criminal. The law-enforcement bodies used a whole regiment of the special troops and surrounded his house where Gumashvili was hiding as a means of self-defence.

In spite of the fact that the Special Forces knew that other innocent people were also in the house, they attacked, nonetheless, and set the house on fire. Gumashvili, together with another person, died as a result of the special operation whilst four other residents of Duisi were wounded with their health condition more or less stable for the moment. The residents of Duisi are outraged at the operation especially since Gumashvili was very much respected among the local people.

In his comment made to the Media-News, Mr. Jafar Gumashvili, the Gamgebeli (the local governor) of Duisi, said that the armed people are still standing near the village despite his efforts for a peaceful solution. The local population is aggressive towards them since Gumashvili was not found guilty of any criminal activities but was simply protecting his family and had a positive image among the local population.

In relation with this special operation, the NGO “Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre” expresses its protest. The organisation is outraged at the fact that innocent civilians fell victim to the special operations organised by the police. Last year, as a result of the similar special operation, a passer-by was killed and the policemen involved were not punished.

Mr. Ucha Nanuashvili, the Executive Director of the organization, thinks that this was yet another fact of the demonstration of force from the government. “A 200-strong armed regiment is not needed to detain one person,” he said. “Two people were killed and four people wounded as a result of the government’s heady activities. It is hard to say how they will compensate for the heavy losses of this family? This fact testifies that the government is continuing to terrorise its citizens by demonstrating its power.”

Keti Kuratashvili