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Protest Rally at Gori Prosecutor’s Office

November 12, 2014
 
Lado Bichashvili, Shida Kartli 

Family members and relatives of Giga Zarkhozashvili, detained during the incident near Gori Justice House held protest rally in front of the Gori Prosecutor’s Office on November 11; they protested dragged out court hearing of the case, which was launched under Article 553 of the Criminal Code of Georgia – resistance to police officers.

Giga Zarkhozashvili is one of the participants of September 10 car crash. He was driving a car drunken. After patrol police officers arrived at the scene of the incident, Zarkhozashvili and police officers had an incident. Law enforcement officers blamed the citizen in disobedience and violation of the law. Zarkhozashvili’s relatives insist that police officers exceeded their power.

Marine Gagloshvili, Giga Zarkhzashvili’s mother: “One of the police officers hit me. My son got astonished with it and argued with him. They did not know that I was his mother. I request the full video-recording of the incident. They must show if my son was guilty and really disobeyed them. He was holding both passport and driving license in his hands; he was going to sit into the car, when three police officers attacked him and used electro-shock three times. I would have paid the fine. Let them offer plea-agreement and release him. Two-month imprisonment is enough punishment for him.”

Eka Kareli, witness: “The boy was telling police officers – do not touch me, I will sit in the car myself. When I arrived, he was on the ground and three police officers were over him; they used electro-shock against him in front of so many people; they could not hold him. I personally saw police officers used electro-shock three times. I and many people, who were there, suppose that police officers used electro-shock when he was sitting into the police car; he had handicaps; the boy was screaming like an animal.”

MIA press-center does not confirm use of electro-shock by police officers and claim that person was arrested after he verbally insulted police officers and then resisted to them.

Defense lawyer Mamuka Nozadze does not agree with the MIA version, and states that police officers exceeded power.

Mamuka Nozadze, lawyer: “There is no evidence in the criminal case against Giga Zarkhozashvili. The prosecutor cannot invite any witness to the trial and they purposefully drag out the process. At the same time, police officers committed crime against Zarkhozashvili’s mother and we can produce relevant medical documentation to prove it. Prosecutor’s office does not react on the fact – does not conduct forensic expertise because there are many witnesses and their allegations can be easily confirmed by the forensic expertise conclusion. Prosecutor’s office does not want to question our witnesses, though the court already satisfied our motion on the witnesses. It is very evident that Zarkhozashvili is innocent. The only thing prosecutor’s office can do now, is to drag out the court hearing.”

Gori district court has scheduled third substantial hearing of the case on November 13.  Judge requested the both parties to provide additional evidence. 

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