Court Dismissed the Only Witness from the Court Room

Parents of dead journalists request punishment of the offender

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi

Kutaisi City Court discussed the case on the car-accident which resulted into the death of journalists. The trial was followed with protest demonstration. The victim party – parents of the journalists, blame the court for partiality and urge the local government for help.

On July 26, four journalists of the Kutaisi based TV Company “Rioni” died during the car-accident in Kutaisi. Car where journalists Nino Gigashvili, Joni Kublashvili, Giorgi Mgaloblishvili and Dato Avaliani were sitting was crashed by BMW. Police detained the driver of the BMW Revaz Tkeshelashvili several hours later. He had disappeared from the scene of accident. The victim side states the policemen protect the accused and try not to punish him in accordance to the law.

“The trial was not serious. The judge tried to protect Tkeshelashvili. We request nothing special. Our children died and we want fair trial,” said father of Giorgi Mgaloblishvili Nugzar Mgaloblishvili.

The accident happened at night in the central street of the city. The only witness of the accident was journalist Roena Kakhidze. The judge dismissed her from the courtroom and it tensed the situation at the trial.

‘Tkeshelashvili shall be punished. On that night he left me alone with the dead people. Two of them were still alive. They died in the hospital. If medical assistance was provided on time, they could have survived. I urged him not to leave me but he did not listen to me. Today when I said at the trial the judge kicked me out. I am the only witness of the accident though they do not care about it,” said Roena Kakhidze.

The family members of the journalists state Tkeshelashvili bargained with them several times; he even offered them some money in exchange of keeping silence.

“It is result of wrong investigation. How could the murderer of four people dare to start bargain with us and offer money? How could we accept his offers? I lived for my son and he died. Law enforcement officers cannot punish the offender. The trial was postponed several times for uncertain reasons. The same happened today. How long can it last? This person killed 4 people. Is it so difficult to understand it?” said mother of Joni Kublashvil Nugesha Kublashvili.

Local journalist joined the protest demonstration in front of the Kutaisi City Hall.  They request impartial investigation. Otherwise, they do not exclude the possibility that the demonstration will get more intensive.