As already known, on April 25 2014, the police detained the elected Governor (Gamgebeli) of Kvareli Municipality and Judo Federation President – Davit Qevkhishvili, along with the three Village Trustees (persons appointed by the Governor) of the Municipality, members of the “Georgian Dream” and other citizens – total of 17 persons. GYLA provided legal representation to five of the detained persons; Davit Qevkhishvili, among others. GYLA published the statement on April 28 in relation to this case.

 

The employee of the Kvareli City Hall (Gamgeoba), Nino Khutsishvili, provided GYLA with the video recording, which shows that the City Council (Sakrebulo) member, Tamaz Gugoshvili physically abuses one of the individuals, detained by the police; however, the police does not provide a response. The fact was aired by a number of media channels; however, according to the information available to GYLA, there has been no response ever since. The video recordings also show that the City Council (Sakrebulo) member, T. Gugoshvili verbally and physically abuses Nino Khutsishvili in front of the police and in front of other individuals; however, the police does not respond in this case, either.

 

The police acted inconsistently, responding to the actions of one of the confronting sides only. Therefore, there is a well-grounded assumption, that the police acted in a biased manner, purposefully responding to the actions of only one of the sides.

 

The question is – what is the reason for omission of the law-enforcement authorities in those two cases. If the former Governor (Gamgebeli), Davit Qevkhishvili was recognized to be violator for the verbal abuse, why weren’t the actions, containing the signs of the more grave violation (both verbal and physical abuse) recognized as the violation? The questions become more acute due to the circumstance, that the video recordings, as well as the descriptions of the witnesses show, that these offences were committed in very front of the police. While the police immediately responds to the actions of the former Gamgebeli, why there’s absolutelely no response to the actions of the confronting Sakrebulo members? It is important to explain the reasons for the omission and the inconsistent approach towards the issue. The issue requires proper and convincing response to the question on whether such omission relates to any kind of interest of the Deputy Minister of the Internal Affairs, which was mentioned a number of times by the former Gamgebeli of Kvareli and by other individuals.

 

It is also to be noted, that proper response to the violation is necessary not only for revealing the violation and imposing the responsibility, but also because the omission by the police, negligence to their own duties or selective approach, may represent a more grave violation (perhaps even a crime), than the activities, for which the police detained 18 persons. In addition, in the pre-election period it is especially important for the actions of the law-enforcement authorities to be perceived as objective, effective and impartial.

 

Following the above, GYLA calls upon the Ministry of the Internal Affairs (MIA) of Georgia: 

 

1. To examine the video recordings, to properly examine the actions, to make proper legal evaluation and, in case of confirming the violation, to impose legal responsibility on the violators; 

 

2. To examine the reasons for the omission and the allegedly selective approach by the police towards the persons involved in the Kvareli incident. In addition, it should also be examined, whether such actions of the police relate in any way to any unlawful interest/order of the high-level public officials. 

 

ჯ. კახიძის #15, თბილისი, საქართველო, 0102 ; ტელ: (995 32) 95 23 53; ფაქსი: (995 32) 92 32 11; ელ-ფოსტა: gyla@gyla.ge; www.gyla.ge
15, J. Kakhidze str. 0102, Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel: (995 32) 95 23 53; Fax: (995 32) 92 32 11; E-mail: gyla@gyla.ge; www.gyla.ge