UNM Members from Kutaisi Complain about Political Oppression

Shorena Kakabadze, Imereti

MP Giorgi Tevdoradze from United National Movement (UNM) complained about oppression facts against their supporters and illegal activities of the government.

Tevodardze, who was Kutaisi City Mayor in the past, made public statement about alleged oppression at special briefing. He mentioned several facts of oppression and called on local and central authorities to refrain from similar activities. “They have already exceeded all frames. They directly and publicly persecute every member or supporter of our political party. People are fired from jobs without any explanations. They do not care what will happen tomorrow when Georgian Dream will not be in the government and UNM will return to office again.”

Tevdoradze mentioned concrete fact of dismissal, when Mikheil Pkhakadze was fired from the position of the Director of Youth Union by Lado Pataridze, head of union of non-commercial legal entities (cultural-educational, art and other entities).

“This fact is obvious example of oppression and intimidation against people, who are not members of the Georgian Dream. The tragedy is that so-called HR policy is led by the security service located in Tabidze street instead the Kutaisi local self-governmental agencies. Law enforcement officers of the service made decision on Pkhakadze’s resignation and to tell the truth I expected it,” Tevdoradze said.

He added that after government changed in the country, about 70 people were fired on political grounds from the union of non-commercial legal entities, which unifies 16 organizations. 

Giorgi Tevdoardze is not the only member of the United National Movement, who complains about political persecution and oppression. MP from the UNM Davit Sakvarelidze also complained about new government. Former deputy chief prosecutor blames law enforcement bodies, namely prosecutor’s office, in political oppression.

Sakvarelidze held special briefing together with the former head of culture service at Kutaisi City Hall Temur Tsamtsishvili in the parliament; they spoke about violations by the prosecutor’s office. “Prosecutor’s office received a letter from Kutaisi self-governmental agency, which clearly stated that the City Hall, namely the city budget was not harmed by Tsamtsishvili’s activities at all. This document and lack of witnesses in the case indicate at the innocence of the former head of culture service. Despite that, prosecutor’s office still oppresses the Kutaisi City Hall to blame Tsamtsishvili in the law violation that directly demonstrates their political motives.”

Prosecutor’s office blamed Tsamtsishvili in the abuse of professional authority and waste of budget funds in the beginning of last year.

“Lately, months after Tsamtsishvili’s case was discussed, Kutaisi City Hall sent letter to the prosecutor’s office, where they complained about Tsamtsishvili. These two controversial letters prove oppression from the prosecutor’s office. Now they targeted at the City Hall. Finally, everything will finish with politically motivated revenge against us, UNM and our supporters,” Sakvarelidze said.

Temur Tsamtsishvili agreed with the statement of the former prosecutor and clarified: “Western Georgia’s regional prosecutor’s office compels Kutaisi self-governmental agency to change position with regard to this case because if city hall’s representative declare themselves as victims, the case will be solved.”