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“District Governor Gave Almost Political Instruction in His Working Room”

July 31, 2012
 
Observer of the organization Fair Elections blames Lanchkhuti district governor in oppression.
Nino Mshvidobadze, Guria

Coordinator and long-term observer of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy in Lanchkhuti district Nana Sanikidze told humanrights.ge that Lanchkhuti district governor Giorgi Goguadze had summoned her to his office and physically oppressed her.

“The district governor was suspicious about transparency of our organization’s activities – checking information. For that reason he summoned me to the office and demanded to control the activities of the opposition parties too. In accordance to my responsibilities I have to observe violations made both by the authority and opposition parties. However, when governmental official instructs or orders me to do something, it is oppression. In fact, he gave a political instruction to me in his working room,” Sanikidze said.

The district governor gave the following instruction to Sanikidze because of her previous findings. Namely, in Kviani village Sanikidze observed the following fact: “Two local teachers – Tamila Topuria and Angelina Khizanishvili were agitating in favor of the ruling party. The teachers did not confirm the information with me but I tried to check the provided information.”

Sanikidze said head of Culture and Monument Protection Service at the Lanchkhuti district administration Irma Mgeladze got in touch with her and handed a paper with an inscription: “Zurab Kuchashvili”. As it was cleared up, they demanded her to check the information with Zurab Kuchashvili. Mgeladze said it was governor’s order: “I would like to underline again that I am monitoring ongoing process in Lanchkhuti district and it is my obligation to observe any fact of violation, oppression or intimidation and to update the organization with information,” Nana Sanikidze said.

According to Sanikidze, Zurab Kuchashvili is activist of the National Movement’s youth branch.

“Several days ago, Coalition Georgian Dream organized a rally in support of the TV-Company Maestro in Lanchkhuti. Kuchashvili was implementing party instruction and was taking photos of the rally participants. He denied the information on the phone but when I met him in private, he confirmed that a member of the Georgian Dream had got irritated at being photographed by him, and as Kuchashvili said he went to his mother and warned her – unless your son stops shooting photos, he will face problems. Although it was verbal warning and Kuchashvili could not provide evidence to prove it [he did not even name the offender], I sent the information to the ISFED head office,” Nana Sanikidze said.

Nana Sanikidze simultaneously works as a scientist at the Lanchkhuti District Valodia Tsuladze Museum of Cinema and Theater. She said she was compelled to quit museum: “Lawyer of the Lanchkhuti district Culture House told me the law prohibited working in two places and I had to choose one of them. I am performing part-time job at the Culture House and my second occupation in the nongovernmental organization does not hinder me to perfectly implement my duties. I think, my activities in the field of nongovernmental sector contradict the governor’s interests.”

Director of the Lanchkhuti Culture House Sopo Chelidze denied spread information about suggesting to Sanikidze to quit one of her two jobs. Besides that, she underlined that nobody has written resignation letter on Nana Sanikidze yet.

Several days ago, ISFED spread official statement about this issue. (see statement on the following link: http://www.isfed.ge/pdf/2012-07-23.pdf )

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