Aprasidzes Are not on the List of Political Prisoners

Tako Khutsishvili

On January 18, president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili suddenly mentioned the issue of political prisoners when he was presenting resort project in Svaneti region. Speaking about future resorts of Anaklia and Mestia, he recalled famous case of Aprasidze and asked rhetorically. “How can several representatives of the so-called political elite treat their country like that?!”

The president said in the past Svaneti was governed by Aprasidzes and other criminals. “Nevertheless, several people do not like their imprisonment in Tbilisi. They even inserted the Aprasidzes on the list of political prisoners.”

“How can I be kind to those people who are doing it? Several representatives of the so-called “political elite” remind me incest. In this situation, their problem is not liking or disliking Saakashvili. How can they treat their country like that?!” said the president.

It is strange why Saakashvili recalled incest while speaking about political elite. Even experienced psychologists cannot explain it, who avoid making conclusions about Saakashvili’s statements without deep analyze of his subconscious.

As for political prisoners, we can claim that Aprasidzes are not on any list of political prisoners. At least, human rights defenders do not have information about similar list.

Executive director of the Human Rights Center Ucha Nanuashvili said he has not read the name of Aprasidzes in any of the lists of political prisoners he has seen. The Human Rights Center actively participated in creating of one of the lists where people were declared to be political prisoner in accordance to the international criteria. More precisely, 5 non-governmental organizations worked on this list; they are: Center for Constitutional Rights, the Human Rights Center, Council of Public Expertise, Trade Union of Independent Lawyers of Georgia, Commonwealth of Georgian Prisoners and organization “Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights.”

Conservative Party assisted the NGOs while working on the list of political prisoners. Leader of the Conservative Party Kakha Kukava said the party did not directly participate in the creation of the list. However, they provided the NGOs with all materials they had. “Of course, nobody has inserted the Aprasidzes on the list of political prisoners. Besides that, dead people could not have been inserted on the list. As for brothers of the killed Aprasidzes who are still alive, they are not on the list either. The point is why Saakashvili mentioned their name now. On the second anniversary of the November 7, we presented the bill of particulars on Mikheil Saakashvili which will be sent to him on the same day he resigns. On the opening ceremony of the Hotel “Radisson” Saakashvili stated he had ordered to bomb the tower of Aprasidzes. In accordance to the law of Georgia nobody, as well as the president, has right to give similar order. Saakashvili knows that time of his liability will come sooner or later.”

Former public defender Sozar Subari also speaks about the crime committed by the president. He does not know anything about the list of political prisoners where Aprasidzes are on the list.

“Statement of the president during the opening ceremony of the Hotel Radisson was confession of the committed crime. Apparently, he ordered to bomb the family and the father and one of the brothers were killed. I do not know which Aprasidzes are on the list of political prisoners, but their imprisonment is clearly political interest of the government. Fair court shall decide whether the family is guilty or not. Unfortunately, their right to fair trial was breached; consequently, the judgment is illegal. Procedural Code is permanently breached in regard with Gocha Aprasidze.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs carried out special operation against Aprasidzes in the village of Etseri in Mestia region on March 24, 2004. During the bombardment of the house father and son Evgeni and Omekh Aprasidzes were killed. Gocha and Shmagi Aprasidzes were arrested and judged under grave accusations. Before Rose Revolution, law enforcement bodies blame the Aprasidzes for several crimes but they are not imprisoned yet.

As for the list of political prisoners, which was prepared by the participation of the Human Rights Center is published together with the article.

political prisoners