Nona Suvarian, Tbilisi
Problems of IDPs, lack of independent court, issue of political prisoners, restriction of freedom of expression, mistakes committed during August war-this is the list of those issues that were discussed at the three-day seminar -“National, Regional and International Remedies for Victims of Human Rights Violations” organized by International Federation of Human Rights in Tbilisi at the Vera Palace Hotel, on 8-10 November 2008. As closure to the event, participants passed on behalf of their respective organizations two declarations: the first one addressed issues of human rights and the second was about the Russian-Georgian War of August 2008.
It was first regional meeting for the FIDH, and the event was hosted by the Human Rights Center in Georgia. Souhayr Belhassen, the head of the federation, stated that “the venue of the current seminar carried a symbolic character, as it demonstrated that members of the federation express their resolve and solidarity with the Georgian people by holding this conference in Tbilisi
Souhayr Belhassen made her statement during a press-conference and expressed her gratitude towards the media representatives who were attendance. “We want to thank the media for showing up to this event. I know media situation in Georgia faces grave problems, as we know how governmental authorities continue restricting freedom of expression. We want to express our solidarity with the Georgian people. That’s why we all joined the mass demonstration that was held on November 7 2008. Our organization is concerned about serious violation of human rights that continue to occur in Georgia.”
She notes in her comments, “Parliamentary elections in 2008 demonstrated serious violations and it was very hard to be election observers.”
Belhassen also told about violations observed during the parliamentary elections and drew her further attention to political prisoners. For example, she mentioned Emzar Kvitsiani’s sister, Nora Kvtisiani; also Maia Topuria, sister-in-law of Igor Giorgadze, who is the former minister of justice in Georgia. Topuria was arrested and charged as being traitor with some others. Belhassen also mentioned Omar Kutsnashvili, father of Zakaria Kutsnashvili who was arrested because of the activities of his son as a punitive measure. The head of the federation did not forget about Roin Shavadze, a soldier who was tortured and then murdered by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Behlessen explained the reason why she mentioned these four cases – and how she had met with family members of political prisoners and the family of the murdered soldier and how these cases had been studied in details.
Gela Nikoleishvili, member of the non-governmental organization “Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights” stated that the director of the federation has become interested in concrete facts.
“We chose those facts to discuss with her because fewer questions might be raised in regard to such evidence. All of the cases that we looked at are politically motivated crimes. It does not mean that we discussed all the cases that may have been politically motivated. We will also continue our cooperation into the future, as she expressed the willingness for continued cooperation. In addition, we have already called one of the attorneys of Maia Topuria and they can apply to the director of the federation and be able to send materials to her.”
Journalist Zviad Koridze condemns the fact that information for which law enforcers are dealing with remains unknown to society and people should be able to learn about such information from media sources. Unfortunately, our media kills access to such kinds of information,” he said.
Moreover, “Today, at the press-conference was many journalists and they got surprised to hear Maia Topruia mentioned as political prisoner; because the topic of the arrested groups are not being reported by media; it is because they were charged as traitors. Nobody knows where these people are now; it is enough that this woman is sister of Igor Giorgadze’s wife and she must be in prison; just like Nora Kvitsiani who is in prison because she is sister of Emzar Kvitsiani, who is claimed to be a former outlaw in the Kodori Gorge.”
Souhayr Belhassen hopes she would manage to meet with governmental officials during her visit in Tbilisi. However, currently only the head of the penitentiary department has agreed to meet with her. She stated that the federation has all corresponding mechanisms to distribute the information that is being received from Georgia among international organizations, and it will attempt to influence and improve the status of human rights being experienced in Georgia.
Ucha Nanuashvili, executive director of the Human Rights Center, spoke about the declarations that were drawn up by federation members, together with Georgian NGOs on the third day and final day of the seminar. “We adopted two declarations. The first is about human rights situation in Georgia. It has covered principal violations faced in recent years, and the second is about indiscriminate use of force in the war, including the use of cluster bombs by Georgian and the Russian sides. There are many problems now faced in the post war conflict zone.
Signers of the declaration condemn the war and overall human rights violations carried out by all parties to the conflict. Russian, Ossetian and Georgian parties are responsible violations and concrete crimes that occurred during and after the August war. Of course, the degree of responsibility differs from one party to another.”
Ucha Nanuashvili expects that there will be positive results from this meeting.
“All what has been said in this hall will be distributed among a wider range of international organizations and stakeholders. We have received such a promise; the Federation will use all its available channels and will submit the information with the European Union. The Federation has a special office in Brussels that is charged with lobbying activities these problems will be discussed there too.”
Zviad Koridze complains about “very bad form” of communication between the governmental authorities and non-governmental organizations:
“Instead governmental authorities in Georgia are not able to manage to communicate with human rights defenders at the domestic level and try resolving the problems by working together cooperating. Now we have received a model of communication. Georgian human rights defenders inform international human rights organizations: in response they go about gathering, discussing the problems, petitioning to various bodies and only after all these procedures, international political organizations are send their recommendations and petitions to the Georgian government with request to resolve various stated problems.”
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