Vladimer Bedukadze Detained at Tbilisi International Airport

On January 18, the person who shot the prison torture footage Vladimer Bedukadze was detained at Tbilisi international airport. As a correspondent of InterPressNews informed, Bedukadze returned at about 01:00 am to Georgia via an Istanbul flight.

As his arrest warrant was issued and imprisonment was imposed on him as a preventive measure, laws enforcement officers arrested him in the airport. His lawyers made the first comment at the airport at about 04:00 am.

His lawyer Lali Aptsiauri told journalists that Bedukadze was arrested and protocols were drawn up in peaceful situation.

At the moment, Bedukadze is in Gldani No. 8 prison now; his belongings were given to his family members.

“Bedukadze is ready to cooperate with the investigation and give testimony. He has other video footage and written evidence about prison torture, which he will give to the prosecution”, Aptsiauri said.

The lawyer say Bedukadze was informed about the detention, though he decided to return as he is ready to cooperate with the investigation.

The lawyer will address the court to change the preventive detention. The day of the court hearing is not known yet.

Bedukadze’s relatives and friends were waiting for him yesterday at the airport, though they were not able to see him.

Bedukadze is accused of inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners. He was sentenced to imprisonment in absentia. Journalists were also waiting for the return of Badri Bitsadze, identified as political refugee by human rights defenders. The flight Bitsadze had to return on did not take place.

Interpresnews