One of the Main Witnesses Questioned in Akhalaia’s Case

Salome Achba

Prosecutor questioned one of the main witnesses – former military servant Datuashvili, in Bacho Akhalaia’s case, the former defense and interior minister of Georgia. The witness spoke about the episode where investigation blames Bacho Akhalaia and other accused in torture and inhuman treatment.

Former military servant Otar Datuashvili said that based on Akhalaia’s order he and 18 more soldiers were physically and verbally assaulted and then locked in the bathroom during three days.

“After a military training we could not make physical exercises because we were very tired. Since we did not attend the exercises they insulted us, cursed and called us “pigs”. To protest it, I together with 18 more soldiers decided not to have dinner. In reply to that, we were taken to the so-called “briefing room” where Merab Kiknadze, Giorgi Kalandadze and Bachana Akhalaia were. They beat and cursed us; I was beaten by Giorgi Kalandadze. Then we were taken out and made run without t-shirts. Accused Gorgadze was supervising us. Then Bachana Akhalaia said “Let them have a rest now” and we were taken to the bathroom and locked there. We spent three days in it. It was February 16 and very cold. The heating was on only at first night; then they switched off the heating and we spent next two days in cold. We were lying on the cold floor and did not get food during three days. As far as I remember the military police was supervising us; they used to enter and count us,” Otar Datuashvili said in his testimony.

The prosecutor was asking the witness about factual circumstances of the case; whilst the defense side inquired about the details of his interrogation at the prosecutor’s office; the defense lawyer was asking Datuashvili when he was summoned to the prosecutor’s office to give a testimony, how long the interrogation lasted and whether he was intimidated there. The witness said he had not been oppressed at the prosecutor’s office.

One of the accused persons verbally insulted and threatened (“you will see what will happen with you”) the witness when he was leaving the courtroom. However, the judge did not presumably detect this incident and did not respond to verbal insulting of the witness.

Bacho Akhalaia is accused of organization of torture, abuse of authority and illegal deprivation of liberty.

Six more people were accused under the same case: former chief of the United General Staff of the Defense Ministry Giorgi Kalandadze, former deputy chair of the security department of the penitentiary ministry Gaga Mkurnalidze, former commander of the fourth brigade Zurab Shamatava, Aleksandre Giorgadze, Manuchar Daraselia, Giorgi Kintsurashvili and Merab Kikabidze. Kalandadze is accused of the abuse of professional power and illicit restriction of freedom. Mkurnaliadze, Daraselia and Kintsurashvili are accused of illicit restriction of freedom. Shamatava is accused of the abuse of power. As for Merab Kiknadze, he was accused of illicit restriction of freedom and participation in torture. None of the accused people plead guilty. Only Akhalaia and Mkurnaladze were sentenced to imprisonment and others were bailed by the court.