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Former Police Officer Blames Zaza Chaia in Physical Assault of Utsnobi

May 30, 2013
 
Interpresnews

Former police officer Erekle Grishkashvili blames former head of Vake Saburtalo district police unit Zaza Chaia in the physical assault of singer Gia Gachechiladze (Utsnobi) in the yard of police office on May 6, 2009.

Grishkashvili told IPN that he is ready to provide Prosecutor’s Office with the information about Chaia’s activities.

“I want entire Georgia to know the truth about Zaza Chaia. I have no personal conflict with him. I want to tell the truth, which I could not disclose during previous government because of security means; though I quitted job in protest. On May 6, 2009 when Gia Gachechiladze jumped into the yard of police unit, many people assaulted him. Gachechiladze was almost unconscious, when two persons threw him at the entrance to the pre-trial detention establishment. I thought he was dead because he fell from the height and hit his head. At that moment Zaza Chaia came together with 5-6 men and kicked Gachechiladze in the face several times; he was cursing him too for having brought people there,” Erekle Grishkashvili said. 

He said after Chaia his companions continued beating Gachechiladze.

“Chaia left the place and went towards the people where there was clash between police officers and assembly participants. Those men were beating Gachechiladze during several minutes, Utsnobi looked like a dead. Then one person and I managed to drag Gachechiladze into the detention setting where ambulance had to arrive to take him to hospital, as it was arranged previously,” Grishkashvili said.

He added that Chaia has fabricated many facts because of political revenge. Former police officer is ready to tell all aforementioned facts to investigative units.

Interpresnews contacted Gia Gachechiladze who also hopes prosecutor’s office will start investigation into the incidents of May 6, 2009. 

He said complaint on his physical assault was filed to the Prosecutor’s Office in 2009 but nobody had responded to it so far.

“I was not going to file a complaint because it was useless but my mother did it. Nobody responded to it because old government was still in office. Now, former police officer appeared, who witnessed the incident. Perhaps, the Prosecutor’s Office will get interested in this case now and the truth will be estimated,” Gia Gachechiladze said.

In April of 2009, Georgian opposition political parties held protest assemblies in Tbilisi and requested resignation of the government; tents were set up in Rustaveli Avenue and in front of the Georgian Public Broadcasting, where journalists had to walk through “Shame Corridors”. During one of these events, on May 5, an incident occurred between GPB’s journalist and assembly participants; three protesters were arrested. On May 6, 2009 protesters under Gia Gachechiladze’s leadership went to Police Main Department in Digomi, where detainees were placed, and manifested there to request their freedom. Gia Gachechiladze suggested supporters to follow him, jumped over the fence but was beaten by police officer in the yard. 

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