Environment Is Still Not Adapted for Disabled People

Salome Chkheidze

Tbilisi Appeal Court did not satisfy the lawsuit of disabled Koba Nadiradze. He requested adaptation of premises of public institutions and transports for disabled people. Human Rights House and Article 42 of the Constitution protected the rights of Nadiradze. The organizations held press-conference with regard to this issue.

Koba Nadiradze was fined for having breached traffic rules on May 23, 2009 and police officers alleged he was drunk. The alcohol-test could not prove it. Koba Nadiradze requested to test him on alcohol at the National Bureau of Expertise but patrol police officers refused saying disabled people could not enter the bureau office. Thus, Koba Nadiradze could not take test to prove his innocence and he was fined. Due to hard social problems, he could not pay the fine and finally his driving license was seized.

Nadiradze lodged suit vs MIA and Tbilisi City Hall since he could not take alcohol test because the building of the National Expertise was not adapted for disabled people. He requested the Tbilisi City Hall to adapt premises of public institutions and transport for disabled people.

Since the courtroom was not adapted either, Koba Nadiradze could not reach the hall and attend the trial.

“The trial again showed us that judiciary system is absolutely unavailable for disabled people. Not only court but even the National Expertise Bureau is not adapted for the people with disabilities,” said Koba Nadiradze.

Lawyer of the Article 42 Nikoloz Legashvili said the court did not consider the physical abilities of his client and passed verdict in the contrary of international law and conventions.

Giorgi Akhmeteli from the organization Accessible Environment for Everybody said nobody has ever appealed to the court for the violation of the rights of disabled people. There are many problems and nobody speaks about it. “There are some stereotypes; everybody thinks that disabled people will wait; I do not know why they think so. Disabled people cannot wait even for one day, for one hour and a minute,” said Giorgi Akhmeteli at the press-conference.

Nino Gvedashvili, Coordinator of Human Rights House Tbilisi, said the Tbilisi City Hall shall necessarily adapt administrative buildings, transport and other important premises in accordance to the Law of Georgia on the Social Protection of People with Disablities.

“National Forensic Expertise Bureau is administrative building and it provides public services. So, the state institutions, namely the Tbilisi City Hall, had to equip the building with relevant equipments,” Nino Gvedashvili said.

Koba Nadiradze’s lawyer Nikoloz Legashvili said they are going to appeal the European Court after they have appealed all local courts.

Public Defender also spread special statement on Nadiradze’s case:

“Representatives of the Public Defender found violations of rights of Koba Nadiradze and other individuals, willing to attend the hearing.

In particular, in order to attend the hearing, Koba Nadiradze and other persons with disabilities could not move to the 6th floor, due to the fact that the building of the Court is not fully adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities,” statement of the Public Defender reads.

Public Defender of Georgia addresses Common Courts with the recommendation to undertake relevant measures in order to make the Court (including court rooms) physically accessible for persons with disabilities.