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Protester Disappeared from Zugdidi

November 22, 2005

Protester Disappeared from Zugdidi

Before Saakashvili’s visit to Samegrelo, one of the participants of anti-government protests disappeared. Luiza Pipia, an inhabitant of Zugdidi, was taken from her house by governmental guards late at night on the 19th of November. This was the last time Pipia was seen.


Relatives and family members of Luiza Pipia held a protest action in front of the administration building in Zugdidi. According to them, Pipia disappeared on the 19th of November from her house. Eyewitnesses assure that several governmental officials took her with them saying that the President’s assistant wanted a meeting with her. It was the last time Pipia was seen. The protesters suppose that Pipia is kidnapped. They asked the government for help to free her.


However, the deputy governor of Samegrelo-Svaneti Alexander Akhvlediani calls it a “provocation”, which Luiza Pipia organized herself.


“Luiza Pipia is an ordinary inhabitant of Zugdidi. She has the same surname as Gocha Pipia, Member of Parliament, who is known to be a famous provocateur. Luiza Pipia, as they say, is his megaphone. Please tell me, who might be interested in kidnapping her, she is not Nelson Mandela!” – said Akhvlediani.


It should be noted that a large group of merchants was quite active in Zugdidi the last few months, holding several demonstrations in the region. One of the most active of these was Luiza Pipia, who has disappeared a few hours before the President’s visit to Samegrelo.


MP Kakha Kukava declares that hundreds of Zugdidians were arrested before the President’s visit to the region. Moreover, Zugdidi’s delegate in Parliament Gocha Pipia, stated in a press conference held in the Dadiani castle that many participants of previous demonstrations, who could discredit Saakashvili’s visit to Samegrelo, were kidnapped from their houses and taken to desert places in Imereti.


The merchants returned home only late at night.


As a consequence, the intention of Zugdidians to show another side of the ‘Rose Revolution’ to the President was suppressed by the strict hands of the police. Thanks to the hard and enthusiastic work of local government and police officers, the President has received a warm welcome from Zugdidi’s inhabitants.


Prepared with the information of “Media News”

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