Police Forbids Victimized Property Owners to Assembly

The Sighnagi District police forbid the citizens to hold a protest rally, who have lost their property in the town two years ago. The victimized property owners stated about it on radio “Hereti”.

According to Manana Macharashvili, as soon as she appears in the streets of Sighnaghi, police officers follow her and do not allow her to talk with acquaintances. “They watch us and threaten with detention if we try to hold a protest rally somewhere for the resistance to the police.”

Matilda Mirzoeva also blames the police in watching her. The Property Recognition Commission did not allow her to register the plot she had owned since 1973.

“Once I protested the fact and they dragged me to police station. They accused me in resistance to the police and fined me”, said Mirzoeva.

Gela Mtivlishvili, coordinator of Kakheti office of the Human Rights Centre, states that according to the Law of Georgia on Assembly and Manifestation, citizens have right to gather and express their opinions with posters, slogans, banners or other visual sources, but they do not have right to stand in the entrance or on the stairs of public agencies; they cannot block the way, or hinder the traffic or movement of people.

Aleksandre Onanashvili, the head of Sighnaghi District Police Department, stated to the Kakheti News Centre, the accusations of citizens are groundless.

Source: Kakheti News Centre