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Victims without Rights

January 31, 2014
 
Nino Devidze

On November 30, 2013 father of Giorgi Khvedelidze, killed in Khashuri district, blamed Gori regional prosecutor’s office in dragging out the investigation into the murder case. He is recognized as victim in the case but according to the current legislation, the victim almost no rights in the criminal law proceedings.

Victim Aleksandre Khvedelidze spoke about investigation details with humanrights.ge and noted that prosecutor’s office started interrogation of witnesses only five days ago. “They were dragging out the process until the Ministry of Justice sent letter to them informing the case was under their particular control. However, prosecutor’s office has not questioned the main witness yet and the person, who hid the murderer, is free. His testimony clearly demonstrates that he also participated in the crime.”

Aleksandre Khvedelidze also complained about no rights of the victim in criminal proceedings. “Nowadays, a victim has no rights in Georgia; we do not even have right to protest it. They did not even inform me about the launch of the investigation; I went to prosecutor’s office one month after the murder and asked for the information about ongoing process.”

Lawyer Nestan Londaridze of Human Rights Center thinks investigation terms were not breached in this particular case. “The accident happened at the end of November; so investigation could not finish within two months. The trial is scheduled at the end of February; investigation will finish before trial. Unfortunately, according to the new legislation, victim is not party in the case and his rights is too restricted in the process.”

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