The Family of Killed Soldier Not Declared as a Victim

Attorney of Killed not introduced to the Case

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi

The family of late Roin Shavadze, soldier of 23rd Battalion which was killed by Special Unit was not declared as a victim.

On the day of Roin Shavadze’s murder a criminal case was launched under Article 108 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. However, the family was denied to declare as the victim. “My client and the wife of the late Roin Shavadze, Tsitsiko Shavadze appealed to the investigation to be declared as a victim in the case. However, her appeal was rejected She and her late husband were officially married and the investigation should have declared as the victim. I addressed the investigation as the authorized representative of my client and demanded that she was declared as the victim as the case was launched under Article 108 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. However, I was rejected as well. I appealed the decision of the investigator in Adjara office of the Prosecutor General. We are waiting for the answer for two weeks now,” stated attorney Papidze.

According to official information Roin Shavadze was detained by Constitutional Security Department under the charges of illegal purchase and preservation of drugs. A criminal case was launched against him under Article 260 of Criminal Law of Georgia. Officially, when Shavadze was being transferred to Tbilisi he was murdered during the attempt of escape. The attorney Papidze explains that there are some gaps in the case: “According to the official information Shavadze managed to escape in Kakuta village, Kobuleti District. The representatives of Special Units were induced to open fire at him. I am convinced that law enforcers will try to prove this statement by evidence. However, the fact is that there are many gaps in the case proving the opposite the official version. Shavadze received multiple injuries before he was murdered. Several bones had been broken to him. Therefore, he could not have escaped.”

The side of the prosecution rejected the wish of Shavadze’s attorney to protect the interests of deceased Shavadze. “The explanation was that the drug related criminal case against Shavadze was closed. Officially if a suspect dies criminal case against him is terminated. However, we appealed this decision. The family wants to investigate the case to discover that Shavadze was innocent so that he is rehabilitated,”   states the attorney. The family of the deceased has not received an official notification that the case has been terminated. The family is planning to appeal the decision. Davit Khareishvili the investigator- prosecutor of Batumi General Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the case.

The attorney states that the investigation violates his legal rights: ‘I am not involved in the case. I have not been familiarized with the case materials even though I have warrants to both cases. We have appealed the illegal activity of the investigation in higher instances of the Prosecutor’s Office. However, we have not received an answer to our appeal yet.’

Roin Shavadze, a Batumian Sergeant was in the 23rd battalion and fought in Tskhinvali in August war. He was detained by the Special Unit on Zviad Gamsakhurdia Street, near gold selling spot in Batumi on August 16th. Witnesses state that 20 men in masks attacked Shavadze, dropped him on the ground and beat him severely. Expertise was conducted on Shavadze’s body the results of which are unknown yet.