Who Violates Freedom of Thought in Telavi?

Who Violates Freedom of Thought in Telavi?

“The local government harasses any dissenting ideas in the Telavi region. Anybody who dares to speak their mind on something that those in power disagree with is under pressure”, states Tengiz Mtvarelishvili, the Chairperson of the ‘Conservatives’ party in the Kakheti region.

The ‘Conservatives’ party in the Kakheti region held a press conference regarding the issue. During the press conference Tengiz Mtvarelishvili declared that Beka Khutsurauli was discharged from his position as an employee of the Culture Department with the Regional Administration - for being his cousin. 

“A person who has eight-years of experience working in the field of culture is dismissed from his position because his cousin is a member of the Conservatives”, stated Tengiz Mtvarelishvili.

On the other hand, Beka Khutsurauli says that he left his job because he wanted to but Tengiz Mtvarelishvili is sure that his cousin is a victim of blackmail.

“I know that Beka is experiencing intimidation. Although, Beka states that he handed in his resignation I am sure he was forced to do so. They threatened that he would have problems finding another job, thus, he had to leave”, states Tengiz Mtvarelishvili.

There is a suspicious coincidence with the promotion of Tengo Mtvarelishvili and the dismissal of Beka Khutsurashvili. Mtvarelishvili was appointed as the Chairperson of the ‘Conservatives’ party in the Kakheti region a few days ago. Mtvarelishvili claims that Beka was forced to hand in his resignation letter a long time ago. The acting governor Gocha Mamatsashvili was waiting for the right time to accept his resignation.

“Beka was forced to write a letter of resignation a long time ago, however, Mamatsashvili only signed it a few days ago. This means that Beka was under pressure for all that time”, states Tengiz Mtvarelishvili.

Ramaz Kevkhishvili, the former director of the Music School in the village of Akura confirmed that Mamatsashvili does not like people who express differing or opposing ideas to his own. He asserts that he was dismissed from his position for being a member of the Conservatives and not the Nationalists Movement.

“Mamatsashvili sent a mediator to me who told me that if I were a member of their team I would have my job, if I disobeyed them I could be fired from my work. I refused to work with them and after several days I was informed that I was being discharged from my position. Although the Minister appointed me to my position, Mamatsashvili dismissed me from it.
 
There exists an order by the Minister stating that the Music School must be chaired by a person who graduated from the Conservatoire. I was the only person with a Conservatoire diploma within the whole staff; however, Mamatsashvili dismissed me from my position as director”, states Ramaz Kevkhishvili, who adds that nowadays the Music School is directed by a person with only a secondary school education. 

One former employee within the Telavi Administration, who quit his job, speaks about the severe aggression and intimidation from Gocha Mamatsashvili against those with different ideas to himself.

Telavian Nana Karchaidze has also worked in the administration for several months. She told us that Mamatsashvili asked her several times to go back to her old job; however, she did not follow his instructions. Then Mamatsashvili threatened her that she would not be able to find a job and any person assisting her would also bring problems upon his head. Mamatsashvili makes a profit from one of the shopping malls, where Karchaidze’s father-in-law worked as a guard. He was immediately dismissed from his job after Karchaidze refused to restart her old job with the administration.

Parna Makashvili, the Head of the Public and Media Relations Department within the administration commented that Beka Khutsurashvili handed in his resignation himself. He refused to accept that he may have been dismissed from his job.  Parna Makashvili said that he also knew nothing about Ramaz Kevkhishvili, the former director of the Music School. He also refused to arrange a meeting with the acting governor - firmly stating, “I am sure Mamatsashvili will not comment on the issue”.  

Veriko Kobiashvili from Telavi