Georgian Detainee Remains in Arbitrary Detention in Drandi Prison

Twenty-five-year-old Levan Mamasakhlisi is still arbitrarily detained. According to unofficial information, Mamasakhlisi was to be released on December 27. His lawyer Pavle Beria informed the GHN that he cannot speak with him over the phone, because the conversation is listened to. The lawyer gets information about the detainee’s health conditions from the UN officials.

“My grandchild calls me several times every day. He is disappointed; I cannot recognize his voice…As far as I know, Russian side demanded the Abkhaz to hinder the case, and then sent video materials to Strasburg. The material is about the testimony where Levan stated that the Georgian Security Service Department ordered him to explode hotels in Sokhumi and Bichvinta. In exchange for the implemented work, the officials from the department promised him a flat in Tbilisi,” said Mamasakhlisi’s grandmother who resides in the Amirani hotel in Tbilisi.

Mamasakhlisi was detained in August, 2001 in Sokhumi. Soon after his detention, Russian State TV Company broadcast his testimony alive. Lawyer insisted that the detainee was in the poorest conditions and it could have been too easy to make him give such a testimony. According to GHN, Levani’s uncle, Alik Aiba, Security General for de-facto Abkhazian Government, stated that tense relationship between Georgian and Abkhazian sides resulted into postponing the date of Mamasakhlisi’s release.

Source: GHN