Before Going to Funerals Members of National Movement Gather in the Working Room of the Chairman of Lanchkhuti Municipal Board

Nino Mshvidobadze, Guria

Former district governor of Lanchkhuti district Giorgi Goguadze is often seen in the local administrative building lately. Witnesses said on December 12, Goguadze was seen together with the interim district governor Kakha Askurava, chairman of the municipal board Revaz Chitidze and vice-governor Lela Tavartkiladze in the local self-government’s office. 

Media representatives do not know what issues they had discussed at the secret meeting. Tavartkiladze did not comment on the issue when leaving the building. Askurava also confirmed Guguadze’s visit in the district administration but said they had not spoken about politics during the meeting.

On December 13, former governor was again seen in the administrative building. The meeting took place in the working room of the chairman of the municipal board. The secretary said majority members [National Movement] met each other in the working room. We asked whether Goguadze also attended the meeting and secretary Marina Tsenteradze said she did not know about it and added that the meeting was closed and promised to inform the board chairman about journalists’ visit.

After leaving Chitidze’s room Tsenteradze said the board chairman would meet us in a few minutes. After a short waiting, the board members started to leave the chairman’s room. First we asked Amiran Gigineishvili to comment on the issue.

-Why is Gia Goguadze in the administrative building?

-Gia Goguadze? Did you forget who Gia Goguadze is? He is chairman of the local office of the National Movement.

-Yes we know but is it an office of the political party? It is public agency. Why does he meet party members in the public agency?

-Today, it is funeral of our friend’s mother and we are going to the funeral together.

-And have you gathered here for that purpose?

-yes we are.

Afterwards, chairman of the commission for social issues Gocha Janashia left the room. He told humanrights.ge that they have gathered to go to the funeral.

-Do you gather in the working room of the board chairman before going to the funeral?

-Yes, we usually gather here.

Board member Kakha Gujabidze openly answered our question why he had attended the meeting: “There was meeting of the majority and he attended it.” At that moment Gia Goguadze also left the room.

-Mr. Gia, what kind of meeting was held here?

-I met the members of our party. I am leader of the local office of the National Movement and I met board members from the National Movement.

-What did you speak about your party members?

-About rumors spread about me as if I am connected with the commission which was set up in the municipal board and who shall nominate a new candidature of the governor. I have no connection with the commission and I am not its member either. Editor of the newspaper Lanchkhuti Plus wrote that soon Financial Police intends to raid the district administration; soon I will hold press-conference and invite governors and municipal board chairmen to it; we will see who has done good for Lanchkhuti district.

-Do you think the editor’s statement was threat?

-Of course it was. So, I met the majority members and discussed every issue with them. First of all, I had right to be a commission member as a chairman of a political party’s local office.

-Why did you meet your party members in the public agency?

-I met the fraction members and we spoke about oppression.

-Why did not you allow journalists to attend the meeting?

-I did not know you were standing outside. I am going to hold press-conference and we will invite all of you.

-Will this press-conference be held in the public agency?

-No, it will take place in our office. I was not going to hold press-conference but it became necessary to start meetings and reply to everybody’s questions.

We asked Revaz Chitidze whether it was legal to hold party’s meetings in the public agency. “Today, we had a session of the National Fraction of the Lanchkhuti municipal board in the public agency and majority attended it. Several board members preferred to discuss some issues with Gia Goguadze. Everybody has right to enter the administrative building,” said Chitidze.