“Crime Witness”- Zaza Azariashvili

Natia Gogolashvili

On June 16, Human Rights Center held a screening of documentary “Crime Witness”.  The documentary "Crime Witness" is about oppression and persecution of former convict Zaza Azariashvili by law enforcement. Zaza Azariashvili witnessed torture and ill-treatment of a former political prisoner Vakhtang Maisaia in prison. Now he is serving sentence for thivery in Gldani prison N8. 

Aleko Tskitishvili, Executive Director of Human Rights Center: 

The documentary is about the tragic history of Zaza Azariashvili. Under the previous government, when torture of prisoners used to be a systematic crime, this person was a victim of torture. However, the tragedy of this person continued after he was released from jail, because he could not get adequate legal and psychosocial rehabilitation. Meantime, Zaza Azariashvili was a witness in the case of political prisoner Vakhtang Maisaia. According to him, he was ordered to murder Vakhtang Maisaia in prison facility. Human Rights Center has sent petition to the Prosecutor’s Office about this issue, and requested investigation into this case. He, as a witness, was always under pressure. Finally, unfortunately he ended in the prison again. 

Tamar Avaliani, Head of Legal Service at Human Rights Center:

Zaza Azariashvili, with the support of Human Rights Center, was released from prison, because of his heavy health condition in July 2013. He was victim of torture and maltreatment. Today we can clearly see that the Government does not provide rehabilitation and re-socialization programs for former prisoners, does not investigate cases of the prisoners who were victims of torture and does not ensure their adequate medical treatment. Today, Azariashvili is in Gldani prison N8, he was charged for theft in the Tskneti area. 

Jemal Gundishvili, former political prisoner: they were forcing this person to kill his cellmate, also to take charges for fridge thievery. However, they could not succeed, because lawyers timely interfered in the case. After all this, everything is set up with dull scenario, that they persuaded him to steal a fridge, as if he was persuaded by the criminals, who were also forcing him to withdraw the complaint against the law enforcement. Everything is tied together. 

Vakhtang Maisaia, former political prisoner: Zaza Azariashvili was my cellmate, and naturally, according to testimony given by him, it was confirmed that they were planning to kill me. The other person, Levan Oganezovi, who probably was a co-organizer of the so-called failed murder, is now a fugitive and the Prosecutor’s Office is looking for him.