17 Year Old Girl Accuses Police of Keeping Her in Captivity

17 Year Old Girl Accuses Police of Keeping Her in Captivity

Why Does Witness Change Her Testimony After 9 Months?

Eka Sekhniashvili, aged 17, from Gori, a city in the Shida Kartli region, accuses police officers of keeping her in captivity. According to Sekhniashvili, the officers kept her in various places for several months against her will. Nine months ago, she gave testimony against a 12 member gang that was arrested by Vova Jugeli, the Chief of Police in the Shida Kartli region. Now Eka Sekhniashvili alleges that the Police Chief and the Prosecutor forced her to give false testimony against the gang.

In August of 2005, as a result of a special operation, officers from the Shida Kartli Regional Police Department detained some people. According to the police, the detainees were suspected of several robberies. They are thought to have stolen a car from Ketevan Mirdzveli, together with $1703USD, 1000 laris and a kilo of gold.

At the interrogation Ketevan Mirdzveli stated that only her neighbor, 17 year old Eka Sekhniashvili, knew about the gold. Within several hours she had been found and questioned.  Soon police officers brought in 12 suspects to the department and the majority of them were arrested. During the interrogation, Eka Sekhniashvili confessed to informing the 12 member gang about the valuables later robbed from Mirdveli. The detainees turned out to be under age. The same gang was also accused of another crime in Gori where they allegedly broke into a house and tortured the owner with an iron in order to get money.

After nine months, Eka Sekhniashvili changed her testimony. On May 1st, the court proceedings took place in the Kareli Regional Court, where Eka was called as a witness. She denied everything she had said before. She stated that she had been pressured into giving the testimony to the Prosecutor’s Office. Eka also pointed out that despite her being under age, during the interrogation she was not accompanied by an adult. However, Eka Sekhniashvili’s teacher, Mediko Tegetashvili, who works at Secondary School # 6 in Gori, came to court. She told the prosecutor that she had also attended the interrogation.

Eka Sekhniashvili told us: “When the police officers brought me to the police station, I was told to testify against certain people. They promised me ticket to any country I liked. I don’t know any of those who have been arrested. They wrote everything themselves - I just signed it. I did not even read it, I just signed. Vova Jugeli took me to Gia Kavsadze and Eter Sadagashvili’s place and I was hidden there for a while - as if for my safety. They forced me to do whatever they wanted”.

- How did they force you do things?
- At first they shouted at me. I was too frightened to oppose them. I stayed with them for several days. Eventually, they started writing something. They said it was better to do that.  I know none of those people who were arrested. Then, they told me that somebody might kill me. Thus, they took me to different places - even to Kasbegi. During all of this time I planned to tell the truth in court. I could not do that earlier, because I was under their control.
- You can be arrested for giving false testimony. Have you got any evidence proving the police put pressure upon you?
- I cannot tell you. I will talk to my lawyer. I believe that NGOs will assist me too.

Vladimir Jugeli, the former Chief of the Shida Kartli Regional Police Department, stated: “The case was investigated under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office. I would also like to tell you that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was informed about every detail of the case because we detained a big gang. Hence we were following the directions and the instructions of the Ministry.  I reckon it’s not news to you that there are special parts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs that are responsible for witness protection. These special services have safe houses where witnesses are taken for their safety.”

Eter Sadagashvili, the head of the Press Service with the Shida Kartli Regional Police Department, is confused by the accusations of Eka Sekhniashvili. “Last summer, when Vladimir Jugeli was the Chief of Police, the department detained the members of a big gang and I remember Eka Sekhniashvili was questioned as a witness in regards to that case. Sekhniashvili told the police that the criminals threatened to kill her, therefore, she could not go back home. Thus, the police had to protect the witness and took her to a safe place. The places where witnesses are taken are confidential and even if I knew I could not tell you”, explained Eter Sadagashvili.

Sadagashvili cannot understand why Sekhniashvili has suddenly changed her story after nine months. Sadagashvili believes that if the rights of Eka Sekhniashvili had been violated, she could easily have revealed that whilst giving her testimony. “At the time when Eka Sekhniashvili was questioned, the NGOs were very active. Tea Tutberidze came to the department and entered every room there, in order to make sure the witnesses were not intimidated or forced to give testimony. She talked to each of the witnesses and detainees”, says Sadagashvili.

Giorgi Kavsadze considers Sekhniashvili’s allegations absurd. “It is very strange that I managed to hide Sekhniashvili in my house when she lives right nearby”, wonders Kavsadze and adds, “Eka came to me for advice because she was frightened. I believe the investigation will reveal the truth”.

The lawyer Zaza Gigauri, who defends one of the detainees claims otherwise. “Everything was calculated by the Special Operative Department (SOD). They made Sekhniashvili change her testimony because they want me to be blamed for intimidating her to do so”, argues Zaza Gigauri.

The question is why is SOD interested in Zaza Gigauri? The fact is that Zaza Gigauri appears to be the lawyer for all those who have been detained during recent special operations. He is also the lawyer of the Chief Editor of the ‘Trialeti’ newspaper - Tinatin Vachadze, who has accused the District Prosecutor of sexual harassment.

Saba Tsitsikashvili from Gori