GYLA’s Statement about Saikhan Muzaevi’s Case

GYLA has been protecting Saikhan Muzaevi’s interests. The Ministry of Interior, without any justification, disallows him to leave the territory and restricts his constitutional right to free movement.   

Saikhan Muzaevi intended to continue his studies in the Great Britain. He received relevant visa and paid accommodation and tuition fees. On January 13, 2014 representatives of the Ministry of Interior stopped him in Tbilisi international airport and disallowed to leave the territory  of country without any legislative and factual explanations. Later, he attempted to leave the country 12 times, though on each term he encountered similar illegal conduct from the Ministry of Interior.   

Muzaevi links conduct of the Ministry of Interior to Lapankhuri case. As he reports, investigative agencies forced him to give evidence on Lapankhuri special operation and to confirm the information that he was unaware of. In view of the created situation, Muzaevi does not feel safe and does not exclude implementation of other illegal conduct in his direction.   

In response to application of GYLA’s lawyer about reasons of restricting Saikhan Muzaev’s freedom of movement, counter-intelligence department of MIA provided that they “are unaware of factual and legal circumstances that served as the basis for restriction of Sakhan Muzaev’s right to leave the territory of Georgia.”  

For prohibition to leave the territory and for compensation of the suffered damage, with GYLA’s assistance Saikhan Muzaev applied to a court.   

On June 12, 2014 the trial was postponed upon motion of the Ministry of Interior under the motive that the representative of the Ministry of Interior was in Zugdidi regional court on his business trip. At the trial of June 27, representative of the Ministry of Interior requested postponement of the trial for his poor health and disability to appear at the trial (though no relevant medical document was attached to the motion). Though motion of the Ministry of Interior was not satisfied, court hearing was postponed for August 4, at the preparatory hearing.   

We call on the Ministry of Interior to terminate arbitrary restriction of freedom in terms of Saikhan Muzaevi. Furthermore, we remain hopeful that the court will ensure examination of the case on time and will deliver fair decision.  

Source: www.gyla.ge

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