STATEMENT

Last night nine members of Nino Burjanadze’s party “Democratic Movement for United Georgia” were arrested. Reportedly, Zura Avaliani, Nugzar Gogrichidze and Dato Gogrichidze were arrested in Batumi; Vakho Narsia, Mamuka Shengelia, Vakho Tushmalashvili, Roin Bughashvili, Giorgi Bolashvili (born in 1981) and Giorgi Borashvili were arrested in Tbilisi. Driver of Badri Bitsadze (husband of Nino Burjanadze) is also arrested. Besides that, leaders of the party received threatening phone calls during entire last week; their supporters were arbitrarily detained and blamed for the possession of weapon. Zurab Avaliani, chairperson of Adjara office of the political party, was arrested at 5:00 am; his attorney Ramaz Shanidze was not allowed to attend the search and detention process. The Human Rights Center got in touch with the main department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs though they did not comment on the fact.

On March 23, Malkhaz Gvelukashvili, member of the political party “Public Movement for Georgia”, was arrested for anti-state activities.

Non-governmental organization Human Rights Center assesses the detention of abovementioned people as persecution on political ground. The center is deeply concerned about the fact and calls upon the international organizations and diplomatic missions to draw their attention to the situation. The Human Rights Center condemns violation of basic human rights guaranteed by the universal declaration and normative acts.