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Criminal or Political Prisoner

March 11, 2009

51-year-old Anzor Mezvrishvili, a resident of the village of Garejvari in Gori district, was arrested when he sheltered Tbilisi Public School # 165 during the war operations in August, 2008. According to the decision of Tbilisi City Court, policemen from division # 5 of the Old Tbilisi Department within the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Mezvrishvili in Janashia Street in Tbilisi. The law enforcers discovered white-brownish powder on him. Trials on Mezvrishvili still continue and he is charged under Article 260 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (illegal storage, purchase and transportation of narcotics).

Drug test did not show narcotic substance in the blood of Mezvrishvili who is well-built person. Family members of the detainee claim that he was not arrested in Janashia Street.

“My father was taken from school; they did not arrest him in Janashia Street. Three people came and took my father by “Niva” who were speaking with Irine Gigauri, manager of the school, some time before the detention in her office. As father was late we called him. We even provided a recording of our conversation to the court that we had requested from the “MagtiCom” Company. The call proves that during our conversation my father was in the building of Special Operative Department; he was being interrogated for 6 hours.” From the building of the SOD father was taken to Janashia Street # 23 where he was arrested,” said Tea Mezvrishvili, daughter of the detainee.

Other residents of the village of Garejvari who also sheltered in the same school confirm that Mezvrishvili was in school. Anzor Mezvrishvili is member of political party “Samartlianoba”. His family members think that Mezvrishvili was arrested because of his political activities.

Law enforcers claim in their testimony to the court that there was not corresponding conditions in front of the shop “Lux” to draw up the protocol and they took him to other place.

Zurab Pavliashvili, law enforcer:
An extract from the interrogation protocol: “according to the operative information the person was selling narcotics; the search was conducted on the place; I do not remember where the protocol was drawn up. I knew that the detainee was Anzor Mezvrishvili, I knew his description beforehand.”

Gia Sidamonidze, witness, law enforcer:

An extract from the interrogation protocol: “the protocol was drawn up in the department. It was night and there were not conditions to draw it up outside. I do not know if the second person could see or not. We did not have the protocol and we had no conditions either.”

Anzor Mezvrishvili explained in his testimony that law enforcers forcefully planted drug in his pocket. Mezvrishvili did not sign the protocol. He and law enforcers stated in their testimonies that Mezvrishvili did not agree with the protocol.

On September 28, 2005 armed people beat Mezvrishvili because of his political activities. Tea Mezvrishvili explained that policemen who had beaten her father arrested him based on fabricated charge. “Then, Zurab Pavliashvili and Dito Tatrishvili, who planted narcotics in his pocket, worked in Gori. My father recognized both persons who ruthlessly beat him in 2005,” said Tea Mezvrishvili.

Tbilisi Appeal Court is discussing the case. The next trial is earmarked for March 17. Yesterday, the accused requested to compel witness Irine Gigauri to appear before the court. However, the court replied to him cynically and the accused left the court-room in protest. Mezvrishvili thinks that Irine Gigauri’s phone call became the reason for his arrest; so he thinks that the witness must be interrogated immediately.

Although Anzor Mezvrishvili had heart attack, he was not taken to jail hospital. And trials fail very often because the witness does not appear to the court.

Tea Tedliashvili, Gori

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