Author of the Video-Footage on the Convicted Persons for Girgvliani’s Murder Released from Imprisonment

Salome Chkheidze

Gia Alavidze, author of scandalous video-footage about the convicted people for the murder of Sandro Girgvliani, was early released from Prison # 9 on August 26. 

On May 25, 2009, scandalous video-footage made by Gia Alavidze was broadcasted by the TV-Company Maestro on the TV-program Profession Journalist. The footage showed that convicted people for the murder of Sandro Girgvliani enjoying privileges in the penitentiary establishment. Gia Alavidze has been prosecuted after the video-footage was aired. In the end, he was charged under the criminal law and then put in prison for 20 years. Alavidze claimed that he was arrested because of the aired video-footage.

Gia Alavidze had petitioned to the Parliament of Georgia and Chief Prosecutor’s Office several times and requested to revise his case but in vain. To protest the inattention, Alavidze was on one-week hunger-strike too.

On August 16, Human Rights Centre held a press-conference about Gia Alavidze’s case and requested Chief Prosecutor’s Office and Human Rights Parliamentary Committee to study and respond to the case of their client Gia Alavidze. Human Rights Center also petitioned to the Early Release Commission and requested to review Alavidze's case and pass positive conclusion on his early release. The Commission satisfied the petition and on August 26, Alavidze was freed.

Additionally, Human Rights Centre prepared a documentary about Alavidze’s case that is available at the following link: 

http://hridc.tv/index.php?a=view&id=837&lang=eng