Human Rights Center Appeals Prosecutor’s Office to Question Convicted Teimuraz Gvaradze about Lapankuri Special Operation

Today, at 13:00 pm, Human Rights Center will present statement of Teimuraz Gvaradze, inmate of Gldani Prison # 8, to media in the press-club of the Prime Time. The prisoner claims he is a professional sniper and once he was lifeguard of the ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili. In August, 2012 he was released from imprisonment for a short time to participate in the special operation in Lopota Gorge.

In his conversation with the lawyer of the Human Rights Center, the prisoner said years ago he was a member of the secret division established by late Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and former Kakheti region governor Gia Arsenishvili. From 2004 he was lifeguard of the former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili.

In August, 2008 Teimuraz Gvaradze participated in the military operations without president’s permission. For that reason, he was taken to the office of the Special Operation Department (SOD) of the MIA and ruthlessly tortured there. Later, he was officially arrested for deserting. 

Teimuraz Gvaradze said that during imprisonment, in summer of 2012, three persons visited him in prison and told that several terrorists had captured three men in Pankisi Gorge and had ammunition for Dagestan citizens. Teimuraz Gvaradze said the three men asked him to take part in the special operation, namely to liquidate terrorists during exchange of gunfire. After the special operation Gvaradze was taken back to the penitentiary establishment. 

Teimuraz Gvaradze claims he personally observed ongoing Lapankuri special operation and as a witness can give significant information to the investigation. However, Prosecutor’s Office has not contacted him so far.

In his conversation with the Center’s lawyer, the prisoner said that officers of the special unit of the MIA Solomon Tsiklauri and Archil Chokheli were not killed during exchange of gunfire that contradicts official version of the investigation.

On November 15, 2012 Teimuraz Gvaradze was released from imprisonment. He said after release he was under permanent oppression because he had significant information and was serious threat for certain people. 

In May 2013, Teimuraz Gvaradze was repeatedly arrested for thievery of a cow. He claims he was tortured to make confession statement about the crime which he had not committed. The Court sentenced him to five-year imprisonment under Article 177 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

Teimuraz Gvaradze added that he has significant information about Zurab Zhvnia’s death. 

Human Rights Center addresses to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia to question Teimuraz Gvaradze together with his lawyer and to check the facts and circumstances the convicted person is speaking about. In addition to that, torture and inhuman treatment facts against the prisoner shall be investigated and his safety shall be guaranteed as his life is in danger as a witness. 

Human Rights Center