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Human Rights Center Requests Prosecutor’s Office to Renew Investigation into the death of two citizens killed on the previous day of the Rose Revoluti

November 7, 2012

Today, at 16:00 a press-conference will be held in the office of Human Rights Center. The Center calls upon the government of Georgia to re-investigate the case of the death of Davit Sakvarelidze and Eter Tsuliashvili killed as a result of car-accident between armored vehicle of the Ministry of Security and BMW on November 22, 2003, a day before the Rose Revolution. Human Rights Center believes perpetrators in this case are exposed, who were protected by President Mikheil Saakashvili and law enforcement bodies during the authority of the National Movement.

On November 22, 2003 the day before the Rose Revolution two “GTR” vehicles were responsible for the death of two people whilst patrolling the street to defend the former president Shevardnadze’s residence. The tanks belonged to the Special Operation Centre of the Ministry of Security. One of them, driven by Avtandil Mamaladze, crashed into a BMW with six passengers. Two of the passengers, Davit Sakvarelidze and Eter Tsuliashvili died, whilst the four children were heavily injured.
 
According to the lawyers of Human Rights Center the accident did not occur by chance. Both of the vehicles were driving on the verge of the right side of the road. The accident occurred because the “GTR” crossed in violation of traffic rules.

The accused driver and witnesses allege that the “GTR” did not cross the road. In contrast they claim that the “BMW” was driving too fast and crashed into the “GTR”. Expert findings on the other hand confirm the opposite. According to the expertise, the “BMW” was driving in compliance with traffic rules, meaning that in this “situation the accident could not have occurred in such a way as stated by the suspect A. Mamaladze and witnesses…”

After a long struggle but quite at random, Mariam Sakvarelidze, mother of Davit Sakvarelidze, managed to meet President Saakashvili twice and inform him about the accident and urge him for help. During the meeting Mikheil Saakashvili told the mother that he had information about the accident and promised to impartially investigate the fact. However, his promise was never realized.

On the 23d of November, 2003 a criminal case was started in the fifth part of Article #276 of the Criminal Code. On November 26, the case was sent to Military Prosecutor’s Office. On April 19, 2004 it was assigned to the investigation department of the Security Minister and received new registration number – 04990. 

On April 28, 2005 lawyer of the victim family Davit Managadze of Human Rights Center received a notification from the prosecutor’s office that investigation on the case was dropped. “All possible investigative procedures were carried out into the case but we could not estimate exact place of the car-accident. Contradictory testimonies of accident witnesses did not give chance to have grounded assumption. So, the criminal case shall be dropped,” the conclusion of the Tbilisi Prosecutor reads.

Human Rights Center appeals to prosecutor’s office and chief prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili to renew investigation of this case, to carry out impartial investigation and punish perpetrators under the law.

Human Rights Center
07.11.12

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