Human Rights Center Sent Application on the Case of Former Political Prisoner to the European Court

Human Rights Center sent application on the case of Ioseb Jandieri vs Georgia and Switzerland to the European Court of Human Rights. 

States of Georgia and Switzerland breached the rights of Ioseb Jandieri guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights and its additional protocols: Prohibition of Torture (article 3), right to effective remedy (article 13), right to liberty and security (article 5), prohibition of discrimination (article 14), procedural safeguards relating to expulsion of aliens (protocol 7 article 1) and general prohibition of discrimination (protocol 12 article 1).

On November 4, 2007, large-scaled protest demonstration against the government of Georgia was organized in front of the Parliament of Georgia. At the demonstration, Ioseb Jandieri expressed protest against existing political regime and destroyed membership mandate of the ruling United National Movement in protest; he publicly quitted the position of the head of Rapid Response Unit and left the ruling party. Demonstrators applauded his decision.

Hence, the former ruling political party started political persecution against Ioseb Jandieri that was followed with his imprisonment. Jandieri was tortured in the Georgian penitentiary establishment during one and half year and he was persecuted on political grounds.

Jandieri’s case was described in the 2008 Report of the Public Defender of Georgia. In fact, it was confirmed that the family of Jandieris was under serious persecution in Georgia. Members of the former ruling party threatened Jandieri with the death of his family members.

Due to aforementioned problems in Georgia, Jandieri sought political shelter in Switzerland. In 2010 he travelled to Switzerland and as a victim of political repression requested political shelter there.

Although Jandieri’s life and health was under serious threat in Georgia, the State of Switzerland did not consider the aforementioned circumstances and deported him to Georgia through serious legal violations. During his stay in Switzerland, local law-enforcement officers often degraded Ioseb Jandieri. At 5:00 am on June 4, 2013 certain people entered Ioseb Jandieri’s cell in the Swiss jail, pushed him down the ground, tied his hands and deported him to Georgia in similar conditions without the decision of the local [Swiss] court.

On January 23, 2014 Human Rights Center sent application to the European Court of Human Rights, where its representatives noted that Ioseb Jandieri still suffers from the trauma received during the torture and inhuman treatment.

The Human Rights Center hopes the former political prisoner will manage to restore justice with the support of the European Court.