Protest Opposing ‘Death Brigade’ Violently Dispersed

Protest Opposing ‘Death Brigade’ Violently Dispersed

Protests against the so called ‘Death Brigades’ within the Ministry of Internal Affairs have restarted in front of the Parliament building. NGOs, the mothers of those killed, the parliamentary as well as the non-parliamentary opposition, the victims and citizens concerned with the illegal acts of law enforcers, demand the Ministry of Internal Affairs be cleaned of the ‘Death Brigades’.

The main and ongoing demand, that has been made for several months but without any results so far, is to punish the murderers of Sandro Girgvliani. The names of officials within the Ministry of Internal Affairs such as; Aleksandre Melnikov, Data Akhalaia, the former head of the press service of the Ministry Guram Donadze, the spouse of the Minister of the Internal Affairs Tako Salakaia, are the names that stand out in that murky criminal case. The Girgvliani family demands those people be publicly questioned and held responsible.

The parents of Amiran (Buta) Robakidze (who was killed by the patrol police on November 23rd) have also joined the protestors. They demand an objective investigation of their case. NGOs and the relatives of those killed have set up a hunger shrike in front of the parliament. They also brought two grave stones with the names Sandro and Buta upon them and put them in front of the Parliament. “They must tell us why they kill our children. This government tortured and killed my son. The murder was ordered by Akhalaia, Sanodze, Melnikov, Donadze and the wife of Merabashvili Tako Salakaia. They are the murders and must be punished”, states Irina Enukidze.

The first confrontation between the protestors and police officers took place at about 5 p.m., when the patrol police demanded they clear the central motorway. The protestors did not follow the order. Then the patrol police used force to clear the motorway. In response, the protestors lay on the lines separating the lanes on Rustaveli Avenue, calling to drivers to express their support by honking their car horns to give a ‘Sign of Life’ - which they did.

The protestors remained there until midnight when they became the victims of severe violence. Persons both in uniforms and in plain clothes dispersed the protestors by force. Lasha Chkhartishvili, one of the organizers of the protest stated: “The aim of our protest is to make the investigations into the murders transparent. Late at night, the police attacked us and took us away by force. Several people have been beaten, among them are the aunt of Sandro Girgvliani, Maia Enukidze, the mother of Sandro’s friend and me. The police were violent. One of the police even attempted to use a gun. Every protestor was physically assaulted. Misha Kachkachishvili and Lasha Amirejibi were detained.  So was Irakli Kakabadze, but was freed later. The detained were brought to court at about 5 a.m., where they were charged 7.50 laris for petty hooliganism and then freed”.

The protestors believe that the disruption of the protest was barbaric and intend to carry on protesting until the Ministry of the Internal Affairs is cleaned of killers. The protestors agreed to arrange permanent protests. “The government carries out barbaric acts yet cannot stand the peaceful protests that we arrange. We will have another protest before the 26th of May but I will not mention the exact place or time, because there is a danger that the police will be mobilized against us”, says Chkhartishvili.

The parliamentary opposition does not plan to give up either. David Gamkrelidzde states that he managed to snatch some of the protestors from the hands of the police officers.” At about 12 a.m. the protestors were surrounded by the police who were using force against them. What the participants demand is something that is legal – all they want is a fair investigation and the punishment of the guilty persons. They should not have been physically assaulted for their demands. I snatched some of the protestors from the hands of the police”, states Gamkrelidze.

According to him, the protest had some effect. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has lost the trust of the population. At this stage, the protestors are satisfied even with this minor achievement.

Eka Gulua