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Number of crimes committed against Jehovah Witnesses has increased

March 19, 2016
 
Giorgi Janelidze

In November 2015, unidentified people opened fire on the Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah Witnesses in Vazisubani settlement, Tbilisi two times - once in the morning and then in the evening. According to official information nobody witnessed the premeditated damage of the building, where the Jehovah Witnesses gather. 

The lawyer of the Jehovah Witnesses Manuchar Tsimintia stated unidentified people opened fire on the Kingdom Hall. He assumes the assailant opened fire from automatic weapon from the distance of 75 meters. The Elder of the Assembly of the Jehovah Witnesses Nukri Mibchuani cannot blame concrete person or group of people in the accident. “I have no idea who could do that. I hope the investigation will identify them. The Kingdom Hall has been functioning for two years. We organize religious meetings there. We had scheduled meeting on that day too.”

Manuchar Tsimintia said law enforcement officers withdrew 15-17 bullets from the building walls. “Luckily nobody was injured though the building was damaged. There is a bus-stop nearby. They opened fire in the direction of the Kingdom Hall when the area was full of people and traffic movement was also active.”

The lawyer said they discovered about the accident next day and informed law enforcement bodies immediately. Expert-criminalists examined the building and surrounding area, withdrew bullet shells and cases. As Manuchar Tsimintia said the investigation was launched under Article 187 Part I of the Criminal Code of Georgia – damage of other’s thing.
 
Nukri Mibchuani said the incident instilled fear among Jehovah Witnesses.

There are several video-cameras installed around the building of the Kingdom Hall. Police took the recordings that should help resolution of the case. We tried to find out how the investigation is going on and addressed the Ministry of Internal Affairs on February 29, 2015. The MIA replied: “The criminal case was launched under Article 187 Part I of the CCG. Intensive investigation activities are going on. Genetic and ballistic expertise was also scheduled. The crime is punishable by fine or imprisonment.”

Similar incident happened on November 21, 2013. Fire was opened on the Kingdom Hall in Upper Etseri in Zugdidi district. The building façade was damaged and the investigation was launched under Article 187 Part I of the CCG. 

“Investigation is often commenced but officially, “due to lack of crime signs,” as a rule, they end without real results. For years, particularly since 2012 number of crimes committed against the Jehovah Witnesses has increased. Up to 50 incidents happened in 2014; almost same number of incidents occurred in 2015 and 2013. But in 2011 and 2012 only 15 incidents happened. The Report of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, which was published a week ago, states that number of hate crimes has increased in the past years and they are committed mostly against Muslims and Jehovah Witnesses. The Report recommends the authority to make the state policy stricter towards similar crimes, to promptly investigate the incidents and establish a special division in the MIA, which will investigate specifically the crimes committed on religious and other grounds,” director of the Tolerance and Diversity Institute Eka Tchitanava said. 

The publication was prepared in the frame of the project implemented by the Human Rights House Tbilisi with financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Tbilisi. Human Rights House Tbilisi is responsible for the content of the article and the views in it might not at all express the views of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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