Release the prisoners of conscience, protect Gareji, and maintain the peace

On October 7th, Iveri Melashvili and Natalia Ilichova, former members of the State Commission on Border Delimitation and Demarcation, were arrested on the absurd charges of “concealing the true maps which reflect historical borders” and “using incorrect maps” during the Georgian-Azerbaijani border negotiations. 

The factual circumstances of the case, the further development of the events, and the political context unequivocally indicate that they are prisoners of conscience. A direct order from the ruling party is the sole reason these two people are in jail. The law enforcement system which is blindly obedient towards the ruling party’s illegal commands sewed this case with white thread. 

Melashvili and Ilichova have already been declared as traitors and enemies of the people. Their presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial are being trampled upon. 

The fate and dignity of the two innocent professionals are sacrificed for dirty political games. However, not only the fate of the prisoners of conscience is at stake, but our future and the future of the entire country. 

Illegal persecution and moral terror is ongoing in the background of manipulation on the Gareji issue. At the same time, the case has been used to fuel anti-Azerbaijani hysteria. The ruling party bears full political responsibility, but they also have accomplices. 

The main accomplices are those in the Orthodox Church’s hierarchy, who have been preparing the ideological ground for years. The fifth column of our northern enemy is trying to equalize the strategic partner to the occupant; to convince us that the state which was given part of the Georgian historic lands by Stalin and Beria hundred years ago and the state which currently grabs our lands on a daily basis and does not recognize our internationally recognized borders are the same. 

Such a political game is especially dangerous during a renewed war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The initiators hope that they will get away with this foolish betrayal and do not care for the costs our state will pay. 

This pseudo-religious-nationalist atmosphere, orchestrated by some irresponsible politicians and clergymen, helps only the Kremlin with the assistance of the local proxies to undermine Georgian democracy, its Euro-Atlantic future and to finally tie down the country in the sphere of the Russian influence. 

The progress Georgia has made over the last 30 years at the cost of a huge sacrifice, the country’s stability and statehood are under a clear threat. 

The attempt to politicize the process of demarcation is quite concerning. It does not only create fertile ground for the pre-election manipulation of voters’ religious and nationalist feelings and for the attacks of political opponents, but also it irreparably damages our national interests.  

This risky game further alienates us from a peaceful settlement of the Gareji issue, creates tension with a neighboring country, and contains the danger of escalation of ethnic conflict. Such an approach does not help to return the cultural and historic monument, but could eventually make us lose it completely. 

We demand the immediate release of the prisoners of conscience - Melashvili and Ilichova; the termination of the dangerous politicization of the border demarcation process; and saving the chance of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement on the Gareji issue. 

We call to prevent the emergence of another epicenter of the interstate controversy in the Caucasus.

• Caucasus Institute for Peace Democracy and Development (CIPDD)
• Civic Idea
• Democracy Research Institute (DRI)
• Equality 17
• Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)
• Governance Monitoring Center (GMC)
• Human Rights Center (HRIDC)
• Liberty Institute (LI)