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Special Operation Against Kvitsiani Harms Family

September 6, 2006

On the 3rd August at 4.00 a.m., law enforcers were looking for weapons and explosives in the family home of the Givradzes, in the village of Uchkho in the Khulo region. Special forces officers harmed the family during the search. The family members, terrified by the special operation, recall the details.

On Shuamtoba, the traditional holiday of Adjara region, held on the 30th July, the Givradzes were visited by their son-in-law, Roland Akobardia and his cousin, a refugee Emzar Tskhovrebadze (who’s temporary residence is in Megrelia).

“My daughter and her husband use to visit us every year for the holiday. Nobody has ever suspected them before and neither have law enforcement been interested in what he does. My son-in-law lives in Batumi. If he were a terrorist, why had he not been detained before?” -Nanuli Abuladze, his mother-in-law wonders.

The special operation was launched upon the Givradzes’ house during the night. “The noise woke us up, we had automatics aimed at our foreheads. We were in shock…Nobody let us say anything, they tied our hands and legs….Initially we thought they were robbers. I fainted, my children were not allowed to reach me. The masked people gave me some water. I did not know what was going on in the other rooms. The special forces members were shouting at us: ‘where are you hiding the terrorists?’ I could tell from their voices that they had entered the room of our guests too. My son-in-law resisted them, but they beat his cousin Emzar Tsobekhia.”

“It was midnight, the noise woke me up; armed masked men like bandits were standing over us. At first I could not understand whether I was dreaming or if it was reality. ‘Emzar Kvitsiani, don’t move” - they were shouting. My cousin’s name is Emzar but his surname is not Kvitsiani. They should gather the information and only afterwards commence the operation. How it can be like this?!” - said Roland Akobardia, son-in-law of the family.

The special forces unit had also visited the families of the Givradze’s relatives, who Tsobekhia and Akobardia had stayed with from 30th July to 2nd August. Moreover, the law enforcers also knew that the two members of the Givradze family were in the Beshumi resort. A special forces unit had gone there as well. The Givradzes suspect that they had been turned in to the police by their neighbour: “As our guest’s name was Emzar, they probably thought Kvitsiani was his surname. The President has offered a reward for the person who finds the rebel. My neighbours seem to want to get richer. They must not have seen Kvitsiani on TV either, or they would have guessed that Kvitsiani was not at my house.”

The family are still overwhelmed: Though everything has ended up alright; both my husband and our guests were released, but we still are shocked. As soon as I close my eyes I see masked people. If I’m alone at home and hear some noise, I think the special forces are coming again…” says Nanuli Abuladze.

The special operation cost the family money as well: “It was  midnight, the door was locked. So they broke into the house through the door, broke our dishes, looking for weapons and turned everything in the house upside-down. Once they were sure the operation was based on false information, they left the house. They left, but who will assess the damage done to us?” asks Teimuraz Givradze, head of the family.

Davit Bedia, Chief of the Adjaran Department of the Ministry of Interior stated: “I will not comment on the facts. Anybody with damage should apply to the court.”

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi

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