Web Portal on Human Rights in Georgia

On December 7 2006, Special Operation Department of the Georgian Interior Ministry detained Zaza Amiridze, a resident of Gori, and later on, in January 2007 Ana Mazanashvili was detained at the Georgian-Turkish border. They were accused of trafficking. It should be pointed out that Amiridze worked as a bailiff at the Gori District Court.

The peasants filed a suit with the court against the board of the Senakuri Wine Factory Ltd located in Gurjaani. They decided to appeal to the court after they were lied to by Manana Elikashvili, the director of the factory. She had been lying to them for five months.

The JSC Kakheti Power Distribution Company [KPDC] was accused and forced to plead guilty several times. Despite that, the representatives of the company still abuse the subscribers’ rights. The boards of the local service centers, in order to eradicate the hidden use of electricity, in addition to increased taxes on electricity, are going to install individual meters for each family. For that service a family would pay 110 GEL.

Amendments are going to be brought to the Georgian law on “state supervision on architectural-construction activities”. According to the draft law, the control on the construction becomes stricter. If law is breached, the constructor will be fined from 200 to 30 000 GEL. Consequently, building companies will raise prices on flats.

Gocha Nazgaidze, former chief of the regional Criminal Police Department, was detained for murders and stealing in the Gurjaani District three years ago. Now, Nazgaidze started to speak up about the reasons for his detention. Last week, he contradicted Temur Anjafaridze, the head of the Interior Ministry’s Kakheti Regional Department, who was questioned as a witness. Nazghaidze does not find himself guilty and blames Anjafaridze for drug dealing and abuse.

We got in touch with the administration of the penitentiary system to find out the reason for such unbearable conditions in the prison. After several attempts, Salome Makharashvili, the chief of the Public Relations Service Department, commented on the situation with us.

-What a smell. Let them repair these chairs to sit on. I have been standing for twelve hours already and cannot keep on my feet any more, -said a woman, holding two heavy bags. There is some wire binder stretched at the beginning of the queue. Passer-by should have to keep the third queue to hand in the parcel and then wait for a reply. Uniformed people are standing there and laughing loudly.

Gorgasali Street 83, Ortachala District, Tbilisi. This is a place that is always crowded. Sad people, holding heavy bags, are waiting for something. If you look at some of them carefully, you will notice tears in their eyes. There is a bus stop nearby. A person looking at them might think these people are waiting for a bus. But, the vehicles keep passing, and people keep waiting in line…

Because of a violation of the Georgian Common Administrative Code, Gurjaani District Municipality was sued in district court. The journalist who brought the suit is about to appeal the Gurjaani Prosecutor’s Office as well. He demands that a criminal case be initiated examining why he was hindered in his professional duties.

Davit Tabutsadze, chief of the Shida Kartli Police Department, breached a settlement with Vasil Makharashvili, Gori District Gamgebeli. Although the Gamgebeli allowed traders to trade in the street until January 2, 2007, the chief of the patrol police began dispersing them on December 25.