Three Versions of Guram Sharadze’s Political Assassination (Part II)

History of Messages

The family of Sharadzes has many questions regarding the investigation; however they do not apply to investigation because of mistrust. History of messages is very important in Sharadze’s case. The history started in summer of 2002. 10 000 subscribers of Magti GSM received similar messages: “Death to fascist Guram Sharadze, long life to Liberty Institute.” The incident caused serious concern and several articles and TV programs were dedicated to it. Consequently, criminal case was launched on the fact. The investigation found out certain Karosanidze, an employee of the Open Society-Georgia. The court discussed the case at trails; though nobody was punished for the incident.

According to Rusudan Sharadze, Karosanidze went on sending messages to Guram Sharadze’s personal mobile phone instead giving it up. The messages were sent from Internet site. Rusudan Sharadze said that final message was received on May 21, the next day of Guram Sharadze’s assassination. 

Rusudan Sharadze: “I study in Geneva and lived there before my father’s death. I arrived in Tbilisi in the morning of that day. Law enforcers called me to take my father’s personal stuff. I met investigator Zaal Gurgenidze to take the things. Taking the mobile phone, I switched it on and saw a message dated by May 21, the next day of my father’s murder. The text was the following: “Of course it was a political assassination. He was a fascist and they croaked him. It serves him rights! (Then there was a smile sign)”… “Burry him next to Mussolini?” “The same will happen with other fascists. You should blame yourselves, you rotten and cannibals.” Afterwards I realized that the family decision-not to cooperate with law enforcers- was right. I mentioned the incidents about messages in my testimony but it had no sense. I used to tell law enforcers- pursue Karosanidze and you will discover ideological murderer of Sharadze!”

“He was a philologer, a historian, a writer, a public man, an author of numerous books, etc. Similar person could not have been murdered for any other reason but political,” said friends of Sharadze, who are also prominent people. They do not expect the investigation to be impartial. Those people have several questions regarding the investigation but could not receive any answers yet.

Nestan Kirtadze, a scientist, a politician and Guram Sharadze’s friend, said that political assassination of prominent person means to attack Georgian national values and traditions. She added that similar political crimes are national tragedies.

Nestan Kirtadze: “All similar political assassinations are awful accidents for the whole Georgian society. We cannot claim that people has got used to similar facts, because Sharadze was political figure and he was murdered for political reasons. He protected values of Georgian nationality, traditions, language, culture, our future…”

Kirtadze’s reaction on the question why she does not agree with law enforcers’ version is the following;

“First of all, Guram Sharadze was leader of political movement “Ena, Mamuli, Sartsmunoeba” (Language, Motherland, Faith). Killing the leader of similar organization means political assassination without any doubts. The standpoint of Sharadze’s life was struggle for language, motherland and faith. Nowadays, the survival of Georgian nationality is under serious threat. This political assassination is indirectly and directly connected with several factors. One of those factors is warning for political leaders to be careful. The issue of Muslim Meskhs’ arrival can serve as a proof for the supposition. It is insidious intention against Georgia and Guram Sharadze categorically opposed the idea.”

Nestan Kirtadze also has several questions regarding the investigation, but her principal question is addressed to the government: “There are a lot of questions. The government should not have kept silence regarding the assassination of such a prominent person. As for investigation it is not even a simple formality. Concerned people, as well as the lawyer of the family, were laughed at and licked out from all instances. There are a lot of questions and doubts.”

Politician Soso Shatberashvili, another friend of Guram Sharadze, mentions one more motive for murder. He said that Sharadze had some materials regarding the disagreement with Orthodox Church and it could become a reason for the murder.

Soso Shatberashvili: “I am definitely sure in one thing-it was a political assassination. The invented story as if Sharadze’s son had debt to somebody and the debtor retaliated against the scientist is similar bluff as they invented regarding Zurab Zhvania’s death. I have heard neither President, nor Prime-Minister nor the Chairwoman of the Georgian Parliament make any comments on Guram Sharadze’s assassination. Let them have expressed at least their condolence. Georgian society lost public man, scientist and perfect protector of Georgian nationality. I can suppose that his political murder might be connected with his active fight to protect Orthodox Church. Sharadze was radical. He had materials regarding the plotting against Georgian Church. The government does not seem to like exposing those materials which dealt with the activities of various sects and particularly of Jehovah Sect. I am very surprised that the government had no reaction on the murder.”

One of Soso Shatberashvili’s questions to the investigation is about the video recording of the murder. We should remind you that the assassination happened close to the building of Insurance Company “Aldagi” in Melikishvili Street. The video eye installed on the office building recorded the murder. However, law enforcers did not publish video materials.    
 
“Nobody has seen that record. Two people were recorded by the video eye. Law enforcers are always ready to publish video records of officials while taking bribes but now they are not going to show any materials regarding Sharadze’s murder. One more interesting factor is that the accused for the murder denies his participation in the crime. There are doubts that some VIPs support the murderer and try to hinder the investigation,” said Shatberashvili.

The respondent is sure that the client of the murder will not be found until the government changes. Shatberashvili claims that it will be one more murder case in addition to many previous uninvestigated ones.

Eka Gulua