Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Public Defender Requested Immediate Response to Harassment

April 16, 2009

Since April 9, 2009 the Public Defender’s Office of Georgia has been monitoring the protest demonstrations in the capital of Georgia. Meanwhile, several citizens who were physically and emotionally abused by strangers have applied to the Public Defender for help..

The Public Defender of Georgia is studying every incident that was reported to its office.

The Ombudsman calls upon the Ministry of Interior for an immediate response.


 ***

April 10

Oleg Simonian and Vova Stepanov

On April 10 at about 9:00 pm students of the Sports Academy were close to the building of the Academy of Science in Kostava Street, Tbilisi and they were moving toward Liberty Square. A BMW Jeep blocked the way to Oleg Simonian and Vova Stepanov; 6 people got out of the car, beat the students and seized flags from him.

April 15, 2009

Temur and Shalva Radianis

On April 15, 2009 Temur Radiani together with his son, Shalva Radiani and his friends was at the protest demonstration in front of the building of the Public Broadcasting. At about 3:00 pm they left the demonstration and went home. Temur Radiani and his companions noticed two jeeps in the Hero Square. One of the jeeps was white and the other was black. Temo Radiani and his friends went along Shio Mghvime Street but four cars blocked their way. Temur and Shalva Radianis ran towards Varazi Ravine and about 10-15 people, who got out of a car,  ran after them.Tthe strangers were holding truncheons. Temur Radiani and his son stopped in front of the Geocell Office opposite the Tbilisi State University. The white jeep, which they had noticed in Shio Mghvime Street, stopped in front of them. 4 or 5 masked people with truncheons got out of the car and attacked Temur and Shalva Radianis and their friends. Shalva Radiani was pushed down to the ground; the attackers seized a mobile phone from him. Temur Radiani was also pushed down but their friends managed to run away. Afterwards, the attackers got into the jeep and went away. According to Shalva and Temur Radianis patrol policemen were standing nearby but did not react to the incident at all. The victims applied to law officers for help but the patrol policemen told them they had neither transmitter nor a mobile telephone to call for additional help. Temur Radiani had to call the patrol police by his own phone. Several minutes later a second car of the patrol police arrived but they refused to assist the victims. Temur and Shalva Radianis were taken by their own friends to Central Hospital where they were treated.

Hamlet Gulordava

On April 14 2009 representatives of the Public Defender interrogated Hamlet Gulordava who reported that on April 14, at 8:00 pm he was at the rally in front of the President’s residence together with M.CH. and G. S. At 11:15 pm they decided to go home. Close to the Avlabrai underground station they noticed three cars, two jeeps and one Mercedes. A man in civilian clothes got out of one of the cars and hit him. Gulordava fell down and was being beaten for about one minute.

Zurab Manjavidze

On April 15, 2009 Ioseb Manjavidze was interviewed by the representatives of the Public Defender. He reported that on April 15, 2009 he was at the rally in front of the Public Broadcasting with his brothers, Otar and Zura Manjavidzes. At about 4:00 pm t, by a car of their friend, hey went to Shevchenko Street by where Zurab Manjavidze’s car was parked. When they got into their car silver Mercedes stopped in front of them and a second car, a dark “Volkswagon” with state number VNX 937 or 972, stopped behind them. 8 or 9 men with masks and truncheons got out of the cars; they broke the windows of Zurab Manjavidze’s car, opened the door and tried to drag Zura Manjavidze out of the car. The strangers insulted and physically assaulted him. The brothers resisted the attackers. The incident lasted for 3-5 minutes. Then attackers got back in their cars and disappeared. The Volkswagon went toward Hero Square. 

The victims stated that Zura Manjavidze applied to the police for help but the law officers interrogated him instead chasing the cars of the attackers. Consequently, the criminals managed to escape.   

Vakhtang Laghidze

On April 15, 2009 Vakhtang Laghidze was interviewed by representatives of the Public Defender. He reported that on April 14, at about 11:10 pm he was going home by his car, a Toyota Land Cruiser. In Chavchavadze Avenue a grey Nisan blocked his way and several cars stopped behind him. About 12 people got out of the cars; beat Laghidze and took his car from him.

This incident was recorded by the video-camera installed at the office of the World Bank. The employees of the World Bank stated that after they receive permission from Washington they will give the recording to the Public Defender of Georgia.

Office of Public Defender of Georgia

News