Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Why was Shida Kartli’s Regional Prosecutor Promoted?

November 27, 2008

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Gori

Davit Sakvarelidze was promoted to the position of deputy of Mamuka Gvaramia, Chief Prosecutor of Georgia. Previously he held the position of regional prosecutor for the Shida Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti areas for two years. His sorted activities in Gori were associated with many scandals in the backdrop of recriminations.

Davit Sakvarelidze was appointed as a prosecutor in Shida Kartli when Irakli Okruashvili’s supporters (former defense minister) were being hunted down in the region. On September 12, 2007 Sakvarelidze arrested Gori district governor Vasiko Makharashvili, who was blamed by the prosecutor for illegally transferring budgetary money to the account of his father-in-law who had won a tender under what appeared to have been suspicious circumstances. Afterwards, it was learned that the company “Galavani 2007” actually belonged to the neighbor of former district governor and was not even the property of his father-in-laws. Apparently, the company became the justification for the detention of the supporters of Mikheil Kareli, former Shida Kartli regional governor, who was also closely connected with Irakli Okruashvili.

While Davit Sakvarelidze was in the office, the prosecutor’s office started to return the property to their owners that was seized by the administration of Mikheil Kareli. For example, eleven shareholders of Gori agricultural market, “Komersanti 95 Ltd” had appealed to the court and requested to abolish the protocol that was signed by one of them that resulted in their property being assigned to the regional administration. The case was discussed under civil law and did not involve the prosecutor’s office. The process was so drawn out that all eleven shareholders opted not to have their property restored from the state.

Local newspaper “Kartlis Khma” published a long interview with Lado Vardzelashvili, regional governor, in spring of 2008. The journalist asked the governor why the state does not intend to return the property to its legal owners. The following is an extract from the interview for your consideration.

Lado Vardzelashvili: “I will invite all 11 owners of the market and discuss the issue with them. If they manage to persuade me that they can do something, I will assist them in returning the property.”

-What do you mean by the development of the market?

-For example to repair something in the city, like funding the construction of several play-grounds, squares, or city cleaning activities. I demand it for the city and it is not for my personal benefit ….

-By the way they are going to appeal to the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg/ One of the shareholders and I met the public defender today….

I again repeat that I have discussed the issue with the prosecutor and he told me that he has no personal interests in the property; simply, these people do not have the necessary documents to prove their ownership of the property.

-What connection does the prosecutor have with this case?

-Prosecutor has information about everything. He is aware what is going on in this region. I asked the prosecutor to postpone all business and to meet with all 11 shareholders of the market; he should then settle this problem.

-It is clear but the case is being discussed by the court and procedures are implemented under by the court. For example, I attended the trial the other day and the case hearing was postponed for the reason the judge was ill…

-He must have had reason for getting bad. I asked the prosecutor to request the judge to postpone hearing the case

-Is it true that Prosecutor General of Georgia suggested you during his visit in Gori not to return the property to its owners at once because it could challenge other property-owners have their properties lost in similar way?
 
-No, it was me who suggested it to the prosecutor general. I think this fact can really challenge other victimized businesspersons to start becoming active. I have provided my own arguments about this to the prosecutor.

News