Police Arrested Georgian Dream’s 14 Activists within a Week – Full List of the Arrested People in Kakheti

Information Center of Kakheti

From September 21 to September 26 police officers arrested 14 activists of the Coalition Georgian Dream.  In most cases, the reason of their detention was placing election posters of the Georgian Dream’s majoritarian candidates. Court sent 12 activists to prison and their terms vary from 40 to 60 days.

Detention of Georgian Dream’s Activists and Supporters

Shmagi Beridzishvili – was arrested in Sagarejo on September 21. Georgian Dream’s majoritarian candidate in Sagarejo district Tinatin Khidasheli said several young people attended her meeting with voters in Kochlaani village; one of them took of the National Movement’s t-shirt and dressed in Georgian Dream’s one. “Today police alleges Shmagi Beridzishvili compelled the young man to do so; though it did not happen,” Khidasheli said. Court imposed administrative imprisonment on Beridzishvili.

Levan Nuskhelidze – was arrested in Telavi district on September 21. “Activist of the National Movement sued Levan at police. They are palls. National Movement’s activist insulted everybody who was going to vote for the Georgian Dream. Levan could not stand it and slapped him. The former went and sued him for physical assault. Police immediately arrested Levan. Trial was held so that nobody was informed about it. They could impose 400 lari fine on him but instead he was sent to prison for 20 days,” Georgian Dream’s zone coordinator Zurab Nuskhelidze told ICK.

Givi Nanobashvili  was arrested in Tsnori, Signagi district on September 22. “Givi Nanobashvili was walking in the street together with two young men when police car approached them and officers demanded them to get into the car. The young men ran away but police officers forcibly pushed Givi Nanobashvili into the car,” head of Georgian Dream’s Signagi office Zviad Jankarashvili told ICK. Signagi court found Nanobashvili guilty in minor hooliganism and fined him with 100 lari.

Ushangi Napireli – was arrested in Vachnadzeani village, Gurjaani district by patrol police officers on September 22. Patrol police officer Nikoloz Sazanishvili, author of the law violation protocol, alleged Ushangi Napireli was using foal language in the street and caused public disorder for what he had to arrest him. On September 22, Judge Nana Chalatashvili at Gurjaani district court found Ushangi Napireli guilty under administrative law and sent him to prison for 40 days.

Shamil Rasulov – was arrested in Chantliskure village, Kvareli district on September 24. “Patrol police arrested my husband in front of our neighbor’s house. They did not explain the reason. Initially they hid the information from us and then they said he was taken to Kvareli police. He was arrested because he supports Georgian Dream; he has not done anything wrong,” detainee’s wife Khalisa Magamedov told ICK. Kvareli district court found Shamil Rasulov guilty under administrative law and sentenced him to 60 days imprisonment.

Domenti Zuroshvili  – was arrested in Nasamkhrali village in Telavi district on September 24. He pasted election posters of the Georgian Dream’s majoritarian candidate in the village and then he was in village center together with his friends. Suddenly, village attorney Gremelashvili and criminal police officer approached them, grabbed Zuroshvili and took him away. Zuroshvili was asking him reason of his detention but they did not clarify anything. The lawyer was looking for him everywhere all day long but could not find. Meanwhile, they held secret trial without lawyer,” representatives of the Georgian Dream’s Telavi office told ICK. Telavi district court found 29-year-old Domenti Zuroshvili guilty under administrative law and sent him to prison for 60 days.

Shota Khutsishvili – was arrested in Tsnori in Signagi district on September 24. Police blamed him in minor hooliganism. However, Signagi district office of the MIA did not clarify to ICK what minor hooliganism he had committed. Court sent Khutsishvili to prison for 40 days under administrative law.

Nikoloz Kikilashvili – was arrested in Tsnori on September 24. Representative of the news agency info9.com.ge controlled by UNM Natia Mirianashvili sued him at police. She said Nikoloz Kikilashvili had physically assaulted her during video-coverage and injured her hand. Court found Kikilashvili guilty in minor hooliganism and sent to prison for 40 days.

Nika Gogilashvili– was arrested in Gurjaani district on September 25. “He was going to the Georgian Dream’s assembly in Gurjaani; police stopped and arrested him. During detention he was injured in the shoulder. Police officers initially took him to Gurjaani medical center for treatment and then to police station,” Zura Chikvaidze from the Georgian Dream’s Gurjaani office told ICK. Gurjaani district court found Nika Gogilashvili, 25, guilty under administrative law and sent to prison for 50 days.

Valerian Tamazashvili  – was arrested in Kalauri village, Gurjaani district on September 25. “He was arrested in the village, half an hour before the [Georgian Dream’s] assembly,” Zurab Chikvaidze of the Georgian Dream’s Gurjaani office told ICK. Gurjaani district court found Valerian Tamazashvili, 27, guilty under administrative law and sent to prison for 40 days.

Natik Rasulov  was arrested in Iormuganlo village, Sagarejo district on September 25. Rasulov is member of the precinct election commission from the Georgian Dream in the village. Police accused him of disobedience. Sagarejo office of the MIA did not clarify what exactly he had committed. Court found Rasulov guilty under administrative law and sent to prison for 40 days. Police arrested Rasulov in August too; then he served 15 days in prison. Before taking to the detention setting, police officers ruthlessly beat him in Melaani forest.

Zakaria Gagniashvili – was arrested in Tskarostavi in Sagarejo district on September 25. Police accused him of minor hooliganism. “On September 24, Zakaria spent whole day with me in Tbilisi; we were at the assembly in front of the CEC. On September 25, he was arrested at the petrol station at 10:00 am. They blamed him in cursing them on the previous night and I wonder where this incident happened? All TV-Channels have recorded that he was in front of CEC office in Tbilisi together with me,” Tinatin Khidasheli, majoritarian candidate of the Georgian Dream told ICK. Zakaria Gagniashvili will spend 40 days in prison.

Nugzar Kapanadze  – was arrested by Lagodekhi district police officers on September 25. Head of Georgian Dream’s Lagodekhi office Gaga Gambashidze told ICK that law enforcement officers had arrested Nugzar Kapanadze because Apeni village residents met prime-minister Vano Merabishvili with shouting. Kapanadze is coordinator of this zone; next day he was arrested for disobedience,” Gambashidze said. Gurjaani district court imposed 60-day administrative imprisonment on Nugzar Kapanadze. He is serving his term in Kvareli detention setting.

Ilia Suliashvili – was arrested in Chalaubani village on September 26 for pasting Georgian Dream’s posters in the village. Suliashvili told ICK that he was released several minutes after detention. Police first arrested him on July 1 when he participated in the pre-election program “Door to Door.” He was accused of minor hooliganism and court put him in prison for 35 days in July. Ilia Suliashvili had injuries on the body. Giorgi and Lali Pridonashvilis from Chalaubani village had sued him; they are relatives of the former regional governor and current National Movement’s majoritiarian candidate in Gurjaani Giorgi Gviniashvili. Ilia Suliashvili left prison on August 5. During his imprisonment his father died because of nervous palsy; Ilia Suliashvili was taken to the funeral handcuffed for several minutes.

On September 25, Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs spread statement  alleges that none of the aforementioned detentions were politically motivated; they had responded to concrete incidents. “In recent days, regrettably, we have seen an upsurge in cases of violent behavior, most of them involving individuals affiliated with political parties.  Despite a previously calm environment, in the aftermath of the prison abuse scandal, tempers have been high and a pattern of aggressive, threatening, and sometimes violent behavior has emerged. This includes threats against public officials and political party supporters, and in many cases of physical attacks or threats of physical attacks. While most protests and political events remain peaceful, the behavior of some political activists has become very problematic ahead of the election. All law enforcement officials and police officers have been instructed to remain calm and exercise extreme restraint in this period of political activity. In the vast majority of these conflicts, law enforcement bodies have not arrested or detained anyone. However, in incidents where the physical safety of individuals or authorities is threatened, the police have a responsibility to respond to stop the escalation of more serious violence. In these cases were the physical safety of Georgian citizens was threatened, the police were required to respond. Again, police are exercising extreme restraint in situations where the safety of individuals is not threatened,” MIA stated.

I am concerned with recent detentions of activists in Georgia   this statement of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Riccardo Migliori was released by Radio Voice of America on September 26. “With less than one week to the important parliamentary elections in Georgia, I am very concerned with recent reports by media and civil society groups of numerous arrests of activists associated with the opposition,” Migliori said in a written statement and added that he appreciates the importance of these elections, and hopes that calm will prevail for the rest of the campaign period and thereafter. Migliori urged all actors to ensure that this is the case. He said arrests and charges that would take political activists out of play during an election period must be taken seriously.

On September , Chairman of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Free and Fair Elections Commission Giga Bokeria recommended law enforcement bodies to use lighter sanctions. “This is very important for our democracy. Unfortunately, over the last few days there was a disturbing increase in the number of violent incidents and threats of violence. According to our information, around 30 people have been detained administratively. There are others who have been fined. I would like to call on all law enforcement agencies to use, where possible and reasonable, lighter sanctions, including fines,” Bokeria stated and added that this is IATF’s very clear recommendation to all law enforcement agencies.