Candidate for Rustavi City Mayor Working As a Driver of Public Bus Met Unpleasant Passenger

On May 2, the number one candidate on the list of the National Movement in Rustavi Mamuka Chikovani chose a new form to communicate with people. Former mayor became driver of the yellow bus # 4 in Rustavi. We met him on the bus quite by accident and did not lose a chance to interview him.

Before the humanrighs.ge interviewed the “driver”, he was talking with citizens from the driver’s booth. “Don’t you complain about the new government because I am sitting here?” he joked. The former mayor agreed to give the interview without problem until I started asking some unpleasant topics.

Questions about the incident after the game between the Rustavi basketball team “Energy Invest” and the team of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was not pleasant. The man, who was accompanying him, asked me to stop asking unpleasant questions.

-Mr. Mamuka, do you have a new job?

-No, I do not have a new job. Where are you from?

-I am a journalist of the Human Rights Center in Kvemo Kartli.

-I am training; I might need this job one day.

-Is it a new form to meet people?

-Yes, it is.

-I will take advantage of the situation and ask some questions to you. On April 27, Rustavi basketball team Energy Invest met the basketball team of the MIA. According to our information, after the MIA team lost the game, the supporters physically assaulted the Rustavi dwellers. The local media reported about the incident. They said the policemen seized photo-cameras and Dictaphones from them and insulated journalists. Journalists said you were watching the incident but did not do anything to assist your citizens.

-I learned about the incident only from newspapers.

-So, you were not at the stadium and did not watch the quarrel?

-yes, nobody applied to me for help.

-People even said that on that day you visited the detained supporters of the Energy Invest in a police station in Rustavi and paid bails for them. Can you comment on this information?

-No, It is false.

The man, who accompanied Chikovani, interrupted our conversation and told me. “Talk with him only at the bust-stops.”

-No, no, go on asking questions, it is no problem. You have false information.

-I am not insisting anything; simply I was informed and I want to hear your comment on it.

-I did not hear somebody seize cassettes or cameras from journalists. I was told that nothing similar happened there. What else can I tell you?

-How do you assess your chances in the elections?

-Let us wait for May 30. The people will make decision. I hope, the people will make correct decision.

-Will you work as a driver till the end of the day?

-Yes I will; it is very pleasant to work with people.

-Don’t you regret that you have never used similar method before?

-No, I never avoided similar methods before. If you are from Rustavi, you should know that I never sit in the room.

-I prepared an article one year ago where the former employee of the City Hall Levan Toprakashvili was my respondent.  He said that you tried to settle the problem with him in a criminal way, threatened him and consequently, he decided to leave the country because of you. Then, you did not wish to give comments to me regarding the fact. What can you say now about this case?

-It is nonsense. Let’s finish now. You hamper me. He was my school-mate and that was all.

-As a result of your work today, what are the most urgent problems of the citizens?

-There are a lot of problems and we have much to do.

-What are the people saying?

-They say that much shall be done.

“But who will work to resolve our problems?”  a woman interrupted our conversation. In reply, Mamuka Chikovani got nervous and tried to finish our conversation: “Do you want me to face some problem? Don’t you know that you should not speak with a driver?”

-You are a special driver, aren’t you?

-Are not you getting off?

-No I am not hurrying anywhere.

The passengers are saying good-bye to the candidate at the bus-stops and wish him good luck in the elections. Most of them protested my questions. We try to continue the interview.

-Mr. Mamuka, the local journalists say that your spokesperson speaks with them very impolitely. For example, journalists of the new newspaper “Rustavi News” said they spoke with your spokesperson regarding the incident during the basketball match and her reply was very insulting for them.

-Listen to me, when a journalist breaches the ethic norms, then…

-I am asking you about concrete case. Then, tell me how impolite the journalists were?

-If you are impolite to me, why should I be polite with you?

-Am I impolite with you?

The companion of Chikovani: “You should not act like that and finish now.”

-Why should not I act like that? I am doing my job. I am getting public information from the public official.

The companion raised his voice: “You should not act like that and that is all.”

-This person is number one candidate of the National Movement in Rustavi. I am a journalist and I have right to get interested in him. Do not shout at me!

 Mamuka Chikovani: “She cannot understand and leave her alone.”

-Thank you for insulting me.

-I am driving a bus and twenty people are sitting behind me. I will stop and talk with me after that.

-I promise you, I will write everything. Sorry, for bothering you.

-All right. I am apologizing to you in front of everybody if I offended you.