Bakurtsikhe Village Population Requests Dismissal of Their Neighbor from Mental Hospital

Lela Khechoshvili, Kakheti

Resident of Bakurtsikhe village in Gurjaani district Teimuraz Samadashvili, 45, is taking compulsory psychiatric treatment instead “punishment” in Khoni district Psychic Health National Center after Academician B.  Naneishvili. His relatives and neighbors clarified that his friend Amiran Sachechelashvili took Samadashvili to load scrap-iron on the truck in the yard of vocational college. Police arrested both of them for thievery. Finally, police sent Teimuraz Samadashvili to mental hospital and released Amiran Sachechelashvili. 

As relatives say Teimuraz Samadashvili had mental problems from birth. It is genetic problem. Samadashvili is physically strong person and often assisted neighbors in hard work for money. Everybody loves and trusts him in the village. They say Teimuraz’s placement in the mental hospital does harm to him and his elderly mother. Population requests to dismiss their innocent neighbor from Khoni mental hospital.

“Entire village requests his dismissal. He did not know that he was compelled to steal iron. We all went to the trial but they said it was necessary to send him to mental hospital; they promised Teimuraz will spend only a month or two there. The trial was held in the beginning of August but they still keep him in the hospital. His mother is very worried about it. She cannot do anything alone. Please help us with his dismissal; his mother needs her son at home,” local Zaira Chachukashvili told Human Rights Center.

“My son is incapable person. He has never been aggressive or dangerous for anybody. He helped everybody whoever asked him. On that day, a friend of him asked him to help with loading iron in the car. Later we learned that he was stealing the iron. My son was taken to Khoni mental hospital for two months. We expected him to come home on October 15 but he did not. Please help me; I do not want them to keep my son in the hospital for longer time. He cannot live without me; I have epilepsy and if I have an attack at night, nobody will help me. My son was helping me; he was cutting firewood, brought medicines from pharmacy and went shopping,” mother Lili Samadashvili said.

Human Rights Center found out that based on the April 18 2013 Judgment №2/533–12 of the Gurjaani district court, Teimuraz Samadashvili was found incapable. According to the decision, Gurjaani district office of the Social Service Agency satisfied the application of Lili Samadashvili and based on May 28, 2013 resolution №04–10–04/1457 she became guardian of Teimuraz Samadashvili.

This summer, Gurjaani district department of MIA launched criminal investigation into the case №023030714005 against Amiran Sachechelashvili and Teimuraz Samadashvili for the thievery of safes and bars from the former building of vocational college in Bakurtsikhe village, Gurjaani district. The crime is punishable under Article 177 Part II “a” of the Criminal Code of Georgia. Soon both persons were arrested.  Preventive measure against Teimuraz Samadashvili was changed into guardianship.

On August 5, Prosecutor Tinatin Zubashvili at Gurjaani district prosecutor’s office decided to stop criminal prosecution against Teimuraz Samadashvili because Forensic Psychiatric Expertise concluded Teimuraz Samadashvili was incapable when committing the crime. The conclusion states that Teimuraz Samadashvili must take involuntary psychiatric care in hospital in accordance to the Georgian law. Soon police officers took him to Khoni.

As for the second accused person, who took Teimuraz Samadashvili to steal iron, prosecutor’s office signed plea-agreement with him and is already free.

Teimuraz Samadashvili’s mother does know how long her son will stay in mental hospital. Relatives and neighbors said Lili Samadashvili’s health conditions worsened after her son was placed in mental hospital. She has visited him only once together with her neighbors, because she cannot travel long distance.  

Lawyer of Human Rights Center Lia Khuroshvili said the medical commission must immediately evaluate health conditions of Samadashvili.

“Acting law on Psychiatric Care allows medical commission to re-evaluate health conditions of Teimuraz Samadashvili and make decision on his dismissal from Khoni Mental Hospital,” Khuroshvili said.

Human Rights Center has already petitioned to the Minister of Labor, Healthcare and Social Welfare Davit Sergeenko with regard to Teimuraz Samadashvili’s case.