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Workers Are Ordered to Clean Territory of “Memorial to Victory” Day and Night

January 25, 2010

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi

More than once month has passed after the explosion of the Memorial to Victory in Kutaisi. The explosion resulted into a tragedy and the government of Georgia promised to investigate the incident and punish offenders in accordance to the law. According to current information, criminal investigation was launched on the fact and law enforcement officers initially arrested head of Sakpetkmrestvi Ltd Avtandil Darsavelidze and then two representatives of the Ltd.

Today, like in the first days of the incident, nobody knows who had ordered to explode the memorial and why it was done without security norms. The only reported information is that 5 million GEL was transferred to Kutaisi local budget for the deconstruction of the memorial and other related preparation activities. This sum was allocated from the fund of the projects planned in the regions of Georgia; part of the sum was already spent.

“This money is transferred for the construction of the parliamentary building in Kutaisi and for other preparation activities. The explosion of the memorial was urgent necessity for the implementation of the planned activities,” said former interim Mayor of Kutaisi Zaza Nutsubidze. He did not make other comments like other officials. Currently, he is fired like former Imereti regional governor. The new government does not assume the responsibility for the incident.

“It is their usual manner to calm down people. Initially they make mistakes and then resign in order to avoid people’s questions. Our president fired the regional governor on the same day and their tactics became clear on the same day. It is not first fact. Resignation is well-approved method. The government avoids responsibility by this action and unfortunately, they do not want to clarify anything about explosion which resulted into the death of mother and child,” said Tamar Gegeshidze, a resident of Kutaisi.

Despite the accident, deconstruction activities have not stopped in Kutaisi. Working-group works on the place day and night. The workers avoid answering who have employed them.

“At night they work in the light of lanterns. I think they do not rest at all. Similar action is a bit irritating. Nobody cares about the tragedy which resulted into the death of young woman and little child. Next day, single mandate MP from Kutaisi stated on TV that “the tragedy was result of carelessness of the dead people; and despite the accident, the parliament will be constructed on the place.” I do not think similar attitude is correct. I think, the deconstruction activities were to be delayed at least for short time,” said Tengiz Gureshidze, who lives close to the Memorial to Victory.

Kutaisi citizens are still under influence of the tragedy which happened during explosion. They demand replies on many questions. They also inquire why the monument was destroyed so rapidly and why the population was not warned at least several days or weeks before.

“These questions should be replied by the government. However, nobody wants to clarify anything yet. We have petitioned to the Kutaisi City Hall, municipality board and requested information about deconstruction of the Memorial to Victory. We have not received the reply yet. They claim all documents were withdrawn by the prosecutor’s office in accordance to the law,” said Nato Katamadze, head of Kutaisi office of Republic Party.

After the tragedy on St. Nikolai’s Day everybody thought everything would be done to find out the truth. Despite similar expectation, the situation is still unclear: investigation cannot publish new circumstances; workers are cleaning the area, the family of the dead people is offered compensation of 12 000 GEL instead replying to their questions.

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