Detainees Complain about Inhuman Treatment

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara

On September 13, 2013 Yusuph Lakaev and his companions Piruz Tsulukidze and Temur Bakhuntaradze were detained. Lakaev is accused under Article 3531 Article 236 Parts I and II of the Criminal Code of Georgia that envisages punishment for the assault on police or government representatives and illicit purchase-possession of weapon. Tsulukidze and Bakhuntaridze were accused under Article 353 Part II of the CCG – injury of health of a police officer or other government representative.

The detainees were arrested after gunfire in Batumi on September 13. As a result of crossfire, a police officer and a passer-by were wounded; Lakaev was also wounded.

State prosecutors alleged at the trial that “they carried out anti-public activities”. Detained Piruz Tsulukidze claimed that law enforcement officers identify him as a terrorist because of his looks. The detainees were taken to the court with blood-stains on their cloths. Tsulukidze and Bakhuntaridze do not plead guilty.

Lawyer of Tsulukidze and Bakhuntaridze Irakli Shavadze speaks about inhuman treatment of the detainees. He urges the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia Archil Kbilashvili to personally supervise the case proceeding. “After the detention of Piruz Tsulukidze and Temur Bakhuntaradze, they were inhumanly treated – more precisely they were ruthlessly beaten and inhumanly treated by law enforcement officers. The accused people have injuries on the bodies and it is proved by protocols of outer examination and other medical documents. In addition to that, protocols on their detention and personal search, as well as their search took place about three hours after they were detained. Meanwhile, they were inhumanly treated,” the lawyer said.

Tsulukidze complained about physical abuse in his testimony to the prosecutor’s office: “When we were handcuffed, they started kicking us with legs and guns. Temuri and I  Part III and were all in blood. The harassers where telling us “where is your Allah, why does not he help you? Where is Kakabadze and journalists, who held press-conferences?” One of them told his colleague – unfold his hands, let them run away, we will shoot and kill them on the place.”

Before detention, Piruz Tsulukidze and Temur Bakhuntaridze complained about their persecution on religious grounds. Tsulukidze said he was not allowed to participate in the World Championship because he is Muslim and has beard; he was not allowed to cross border. Temur Bakhuntaridze said he was summoned by the officers of the Counter-Terrorist Center several times and demanded him to stop making religious statements. 

It is noteworthy that before their detention, Information Center of Kakheti (http://www.ick.ge/articles/15781-i.html) published video-interviews with Piruz Tsulukidze, 20-year-old Europe Champion in Wrestling and his trainer Temur Bakhuntaridze. The interview with Muslim people from Adjara Autonomous Republic was recorded several days before the detention. The respondents claimed Georgian MIA persecuted them on religious grounds and spoke about concrete facts.

The accusations against the detainees might be burdened if the investigation estimates that they had connection with the criminal group of any foreign country. The investigation team shall also study details about the firearms and explosive substances withdrawn from their houses. 

Lakaev did not attend the trial. State lawyer Mamuka Zoidze protects his rights. The latter said the accused person could not attend the trial due to health problems.

“He apologizes to Georgian people and wounded police officer for the incident and said he had fired as a result of effect of suddenness. Lakaev admits his guiltiness though does not agree in one part of the accusation – he did not have prior consent of killing a police officer,” the lawyer said.

In accordance to the official information published on the website of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, On September 13, 2013 the Ajara Counter-terrorist Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs received operative information that Piruz Tsulukidze (DoB 1993) was hiding the foreign citizen in his place of temporary residence located in Batumi. According to the information the foreign citizen Tsulukidze planned to assist the foreigner in crossing Georgian state border illegally to the direction of Turkey. They were also assisted by Temur Bakhuntaridze (DoB 1969).

Before taking them to Kutaisi Prison, Public Defender’s Representative in Batumi Giorgi Charkviani visited them in the temporary detention setting in Batumi. After that, Public Defender’s office addressed to the Chief Prosecutor with special statement: “On September 14 and 15 a representative of Public Defender met with Mr. Piruz Tsulukidze and Mr. Temur Bakhuntaradze at Adjara and Guria Temporary Detention Isolators in order to look into the case. Both of the detainees suffer from multiple bodily injuries, which according to them had been acquired during their arrest. The same information is recorded in their personal case files at the Adjara and Guria Temporary Detention Isolators,” the statement reads. 

“The Office of Public Defender has submitted all of the compiled case files to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia for further follow up,” ended the statement of PDO published on their website.