Controversy in Akhmeta- 1 wounded, 2 injured people

 Natia Danelishvili, Information Center of Kakheti 

In the evening of November 9, Vano Davitashvili was wounded as a result of the controversy between Georgian and ethnic Kist people in Akhmeta. He was urgently operated on. Injured during the incident Nodar Chichiashvili and Jokhola Achishvili are also in hospital. 

The conflict between Georgian and Kist people started after the members of the Georgian Dream Ruslan and Beslan Alkhanashvilis beat activist of the United National Movement [UNM] Nodar Chichiashvili. The latter told ICK that Alkhanishvilis attacked him in Akhmeta in the territory of former college near Giga Kulalagashvili’s house. “I left my friend’s house for a short time. They hit something to me and then beat me. I do not remember anything more,”stated Nodar Chichiashvili said. 

Unconscious Nodar Chichiashvili was taken to Akhmeta hospital. The witnesses said Ruslan and Beslan Alkhanashvilis were accompanied by third person. Initially, police arrested all three persons but soon released them after Zviad Zviadauri, brother of single-seat MP of the Georgian Dream from Akhmeta district Zviad Zviadauri arrived at the police office. 

Ruslan and Beslan Alkhanashvilis are Zviad Zviadauri’s friends and his close people.  At the same time, Ruslan Alkhanashvili is representative of Akhmeta municipality governor in Khalatsani village.

 

Nodar Chichiashvili does not know why Alkhanashvilis beat him. “2 years ago, they drove by my car and broke the mirror. We argued about that, but had not connection since then”, Nodar Chichiashvili said. 

The controversy continued after Nodar Chichiashvili’s physical assault. Ethnic Georgian and Kist people opposed each other. They even called special unit to stop quarrel. Patrol police had blocked traffic movement on Akhmeta-Duisi road all night long. Ethnic Kist Vano Davitashvili from Akhmeta was wounded during the incident. Member of the organization Former Political Prisoners for Human Rights Jokhola Achishvili was also injured. Vano Davitashvili was operated on at Telavi referral hospital. Jokhola Achishvili is also in Telavi hospital. He has several wounds in his head. 

Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that investigation in the physical assault of Nodar Chichiashvili is launched under Article 125 of the Criminal Code. MIA does not confirm arrest of any person suspected in the physical assault of Chichiashvili. 

The Ministry reports that the investigation into Chichiashvili’s physical assault was launched into hooliganism (Article 239). Police arrested: George B. born in 1990; Beqa K. born in 1991; Visur M. born in 1982 and Levan M. born in 1981. Investigation is carried out by Akhmeta district police. 

According to the information of the ICK, two detainees were physically assaulted in the police office to get their confession statements who wounded Vano Davitashvili during the quarrel. MIA does not confirm physical abuse of detainees. 

As for friendship between Zurab Zviadauri and Alkhanashvilis, Zviadauri became friend with Alkhanashvilis from Pankisi Gorge after Vahabists beat his brother. http://www.ick.ge/articles/15454-i.html?fontstyle=f-smaller

On July 5, 2014, when candidate for the position Akhmeta district governor from Georgian Dream Beka Baidauri failed his pre-election meeting in the Pankisi Gorge because correspondent of the ICK also attended it, he was accompanied by Ruslan and Beslan Alkhanashvili there. Alkhanashvili demanded the correspondent to stop recording, and then twisted her arms and tried to seize the camera . Police did not react. 

After the incident, the Alkhanashvili sent message to the editor-in-chief of the ICK not to send correspondents to the Pankisi Gorge during or before the second round of the July 12 Local Self-Government Elections; otherwise they claimed the journalists will leave the gorge injured. ICK notified the MIA about the fact but nobody punished Alkhanishvilis about it. 

On October 28, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili attend opening of public centre in Duisi village. Pankisi Gorge. Zurab Zviadauri introduced Georgian Dream member brothers Alkhanashvilis to the Prime minister and they even took a photo with the PM.  

Zurab Zviadauri confirmed that Ruslan and Beslan Alkhanashvili who beat Chichiashvili, are his friends, but this case have no connection with any political party. 

“What has Georgian Dream to do with this incident? What does Zviadauri have to do with it? Why do you want to cause confrontation? So what if Ruslan Alkhanashvili is a public official? They had a quarrel, could not they?  I can also have argument with somebody and Georgian Dream or UNM or Zviadauri should not be blamed in it. I cannot understand why do you blame me or Georgian Dream in everything. I’m shouting because you must not spread similar information,” Zviadauri told ICK. 

One more interesting detail: Nodar Chichiashvili’s family, who supports the United National Movement, ran wood business during many years. On August 22, 2012, father and son Osiko and Nodar Chichiashvili, who were allies of that time Deputy Minister of Interior Gia Lortkipanidze and his brother, David Lortkipanadze, head of Kakheti division of the Counter-Intelligence Department, beat journalists of the Studio GNS Vasil Dabrundashvili and Bacho Buliskeria in Akhmeta. . http://www.ick.ge/articles/12043--2-video.html Court imposed 2 years of conditional sentence and fine of 8000 GEL and 7045 USD compensation on Nodar Chichiashvili. His father died few months after the incident.

As for the victim of the recent incident Vano Davitashvili, he also ran illegal wood business in Akhmeta. On 22 January 2014, ICK published an article “Trace of protected wood business in Akhmeta goes to the Zviadauris.”  ICK was reported from Akhmeta that head of Akhmeta district office of the MIA Lekso Tsulukidze was arrested for accepting bribe. According to the information, Vano Davitashvili from Akhmeta, who illegally cut and sold wood, gave Carrabin to Tsulukidze in exchange of protection. Police officials learned about the fact and sacked Tsulukidze from work. However, MP Zurab Zviadauri’s friend was not punished for the same crime.