Violations in Summer Employment Programme for Students in Telavi

 “Anyone who has ever criticized either the President or the government, should not demand anything from them – this is the principle the Nationalists and local government rule the Telavi district by”, says Naira Grdzelishvili from Telavi.  She demands an apology from Nana Kibishauri, the editor of the Telavi district administration’s newspaper and local National Movement Party members for having insulted her.

The President’s summer employment program for students finished several days ago in Telavi. Local National Movement Party members (‘Nationalists’) say that they have successfully implemented the program and employed 350 students, but a large proportion of the Telavi population is not pleased with it. Many students cannot understand why they were not accepted as a street dustman.

Their parents complain too; however they abstain from complaining too loudly. In private they blame the local government and Nationalists of making a bargain. Both students and their parents avoid opposing them openly because ‘terror and oppression would be inevitable’.

Only Naira Grdzelishvili from Telavi dares to speak with journalists and says that her son was not accepted into the program for absurd reasons. She herself was insulted at the national movement office (although, even she abstains from giving her son’s name).

“Initially they promised to put my son on the list,” says Naira Grdzelishvili, “I live near their office and every day I saw quite a lot of parents going in there with their complaints. I saw officials from the Administration coming there as well. I have also heard that student lists were drawn up according to calls from local officials.  So I went there to find out everything for myself. I left the office terribly insulted. It is obvious to me that I have no rights in this community…”

Several months ago, Naira Grdzelishvili actively criticized the government and defended her rights during noisy demonstrations held against cash-registers. Having arrived at the Nationalists’ office she was reminded of the events that happened several months ago and was categorically prohibited from asking the government for anything.

“Journalist Nana Kibishauri was there. She told me that she remembered me from the demonstrations and told the Nationalists: “Don’t put the children of such a women on the list!” Then she turned to me saying: “Aren’t you ashamed of having come here and asking for your son to be enlisted in the Presidential program? I well remember your speech about the President and Gocha Mamatsashvili. How can you dare demand anything from the government?” She was pointing her finger at me like I were a state prisoner…” says Naira Grdzelishvili.

Kibishauri’s orders were immediately implemented by National Aleko Papunashvili and to please the ‘furious governess’ he too continued insulting Naira Grdzelishvili.

“Young people of my son’s age were talking so rudely and impolitely to me that I did not know what to answer. They behaved like they governed the country. I cannot understand who this Kibishauri is and who has delivered Georgia to either the Nationalists or Kibishauri?” says N. Grdzelishvili.

The ‘Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre’ became interested in Kibishauri’s duties. The NGO applied to Imeda Kevlishvili, Executive-Secretary of the National Movement’s Telavi district office, who stated in his conversation with us that Kibishauri had no dealings in this program. As he explained, “students were selected impartially and the lists were drawn up neither according to telephone calls nor through acquaintances…”

Imeda Kevlishvili’s words were repeated by Aleko Papunashvili, a member of the National Movement and chief of the public and media relations service within the Telavi District Administration. He recalled neither Naira Grdzelishvili nor the incident in the National Movement’s office. He also denied Nana Kibishauri’s connection with the students’ employment program.

The ‘Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre’ tried to check this information with Nana Kibishauri herself and called her on the phone. Initially Kibishauri categorically denied her connection to the program, but later, having learned about Grdzelishvili’s statements, she got so irritated that she began shouting loudly at the journalist and insulted her even more than Grdzelishvili. Having lost control of herself she called the journalist a scheming, dishonest, idler.

“Schemer, leave me alone! Why are you chasing me? What do you want of me? You are dishonest and have no more business here. You have lost the human face. Never dare to call me again…” yelled Mamatsashvili’s personal journalist - although we only thanked her in reply as she did not curse us as much as usual.

(‘The Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre’ abstains from publishing all the details of Kibishauri’s speech to remain within the bounds of the ethics of journalism)

As for Naira Grdzelishvili, she is about to leave Georgia and says: “As Georgia is Kibishauri’s property and I have no place or rights here, I will apply to the embassy of any country and ask for political asylum.”

Veriko Kobiashvili, Telavi