Investigation Opens: High Ranking Official from Special Operative Department

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

The Prosecutor General’s Office ordered the Kakheti Region al Prosecutor’s Office to start an investigation against of high-ranking official of the Special Operative Department (SOD) based on published newspaper materials. A former official is accused of being involved in drug-dealing. The criminal case was launched under the Criminal Code Article 332, professional malfeasance negligence. The Prosecutor’s Office interrogated several people as witnesses. It is quite possible that Davit Legashvili, the head of the Kakheti Regional Department of the SOD will be arrested within the next several days.

Vano Merabishvili, the Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs, fired Giorgi Dalakishvili, employee of the SOD in December 2007. Previously, on September 27 Dalakishvili was arrested by the officers from the SOD in Telavi; then the detainees confessed before the video-camera under coercion and he was under the influence of drugs at the time

“Davit Legashvili organized my detention, and he had information that I was interested in his illegal activities. More precisely, I had information while he worked in the Kakehti Main Anti-Narcotic Department certain Gia Razmadze and Tengo Darchiashvili were buying drugs from him. Later, as far as I know, Legashvili baptized the children of his “clients.”

“Legashvili and other officials from the SOD definitely knew that I was curious into how Gia Balarjishvili, a person with criminal record, had managed to be a drug dealer without any problems in Telavi. Reportedly he sold heroin that some officials of the SOD had supplied him with. It is noteworthy that the head of the Kakheti Department of the SOD lived in the house of “Starichuka”, his nickname, and just next to Balarjishvili’s house.”

“Moreover, I had told Legashvili that I had supported former Defense Minister, Irakli Okruashvili who intended to create a serious opposition party in the country. We had this conversation after Okruashvili made his famous TV Statement. I said that I respected the former minister as a politician. However, being an employee of the Internal Ministry I was not interested in the politics,” stated Giorgi Dalakishvili.

Since this interview was recorded and the materials were punished in the newspaper many local and international organization got interested in the facts provided in the article. The Prosecutor General’s Office ordered and the Kakheti prosecutor’s office started investigation.

The Press Service Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office reported that the criminal case was launched under the Criminal Code Article 332, professional negligence. “Kakheti Regional Prosecutor’s Office really investigates whether the facts published in the article are valid or not. According to the article the high-ranking official from the SOD sold drugs. The investigation team has interrogated several people and Tamaz Tsabutashvili, the Kakheti Regional Prosecutor, informed us that the investigation is still under way,” said Khatuna Iosava, the spokesperson of the Internal Ministry.

Davit Legalsivhili is connected with drug-dealing. After the initial interview with Giorgi Dalakishvili was published in the newspaper one more person provided us with additional information.

“If policemen arrest somebody on the fact when selling Legashvili’s drugs, the latter tries to fire those policemen through using all his power. Several days ago similar fact occurred in Telavi and I think if the Prosecutor’s Office is really interested in similar facts it would not be difficult to get information about the occasion,” said the respondent who preferred to remain anonymous for certain reasons.

Several people, being interrogated as witnesses at the Prosecutor’s office, stated in their conversation with us that Zura Begiashvili tried to suppress them while questioning. The witnesses reported that the investigator demanded not to tell more than was already announced on media sources. Zura Beghiashvili, investigator for the Kakheti Regional Prosecutor’s Office, categorically denies the accusations.

We tried to get in touch with Davit Legashvili but it was impossible in spite of all our efforts.

It was official reported that the Prosecutor’s Office interrogated Legashvili. He categorically denies any connection with drug dealing and further claims that all accusations against him are groundless. Based on reliable sources Legashvili might be identified as a suspect in the nearest future and arrested. In the meantime, however, the prosecutor’s office intends to interrogate Gia Balarjishvili in prison as part of the on-going investigation.