James Appathurai about Detention of Former Senior Officials

Salome Chkheidze

NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative James Appathurai said it is important that recent frequent arrests of former senior officials shall not acquire political character. 

NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai commented on recent frequent arrests of former senior officials and said NATO also considers this issue and it will be the topic of discussion when Georgia arrives in the North Atlantic Council. 

Appathurai said NATO avoids interfering in the ongoing judicial process inside the country but it is important that the process conforms to the law.

“Another point is how the detention of former senior officials in Georgia is perceived by international community; it is significant not to perceive it as a political revenge. I raised this issue at my meeting with Prime-Minister today and he really convinced me that he does not interfere in judicial process and detention of senior officials is not political revenge at all,” Appathurai said.

NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative said trials shall be transparent, international community shall be engaged in monitoring process because it will be very bad if the process will leave the impression of political revenge.