Another ‘Successful’ Special Operation in the Centre of Tbilisi

 Another ‘Successful’ Special Operation in the Centre of Tbilisi

During a ‘special operation’ on May 2nd at 9.45 a.m., two young people died near the tennis courts in Tbilisi centre. A third person, David Buturidze, aged 20, was immediately operated on, although his condition remains critical. Representatives from Parliament and NGOs want an investigation to answer questions left unanswered after the operation.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the dead people were criminals who had been under surveillance by the police since 8 a.m. and who had planned a robbery of a family in Tbilisi. The leader of the gang was Aleksandre Khubulovi, who was released form the Rustavi # 3 prison three months ago. Irakli Kadagidze, Chief of Criminal Police, said that Khubulov was the friend and assistant of David Kurasbediani (the head of a criminal protection racket inside the prison). Khubulov and another member of the gang, Zurab Vazagashvili, died at the scene of the shooting and Buba Buturidze was badly injured.

The Ministry states that despite police orders, the criminals did not stop their car. Thus, the police had to shoot at the car tires. The car then lost control and hit a lamppost. The official version also says that the criminals opened fire. However, witnesses claim the opposite.

“The car crashed into the lamp post uncontrollably and produced such a horrible noise that we all looked out off the window immediately. The car was stopped, no one opposed the police. After a while the Special Forces appeared and opened fire in the direction of the ‘BMW’. I saw it with my own eyes. I have never seen such violence. I know the police always warn the criminals in civilized countries. They talk to criminals with megaphones, asking them to drop their guns and get out of the car. There was not any kind of warning here from the police”, says one of the witnesses.

Luckily no passersby were injured. They are sure that there was a hail of bullets. Anybody could have been hit on the street. People advise the police not to plan special operations in busy streets and not to use weapons unless it is unavoidable.

Elene Tevdoradze, the Head of Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, has also got many questions concerning the special operation. “If the car crashed into a lamppost, those who were inside the car could not have had the capacity to act. It was a terrible crash; the car was a write off and could not move. I wonder therefore, why was it necessary to assassinate them instead of just detaining them? Shots could not have been fired by those who were in that car. The two people, sitting in the front seats must have lost consciousness. If the police started shooting because of the one remaining person, then it proves they are unprofessional. According to the scenes I saw on TV, I can tell you that the police abused their power”, says Elene Tevdoradze.

The Public Defender also states that the facts reveal the police are not being professional in their work. “When a special operation ends up liquidating the suspects, it is something very bad - especially if this occurs in the centre of the city. These facts raise a lot of unanswered questions. The witnesses claim that it was the police who opened fire. The case is vague. It could be the result of non-professionalism or something else that I am not aware of”, says Sozar Subari.

NGOs believe that statements by the President and the Minister of Internal Affairs have encouraged police officers to use weapons and to kill criminals on the spot if they create a threat to Georgia’s citizens. That is why the assassination of criminals has become common recently. “I order the police officers, special forces and everybody who is responsible for protecting the citizens of Georgia to use weapons if you foresee a danger to our citizens or especially to a police officer; or if the unity of Georgian territory is at risk”, stated the Minister of Internal Affairs in a speech.

Ana Dolidze, the Head of Young Lawyers Association, states that the government has reintroduced corporal punishment through such acts. Elene Tevdoradze also believes the same. She wonders why the courts are needed if the government kills criminals on the spot? She reminds the government that corporal punishment has been abolished in Georgia. However, 37 people were ‘liquidated’ during special operations in 2005.

Eka Gulua