Kidnappers of Old Grigol Nonikashvili Arrested

In November 2006, a funeral of Grigol (Grisha) Nonikashvili was held in the village of Kvakhvreli in the Gori District. He was kidnapped a year ago and just three days before his death, strangers sent him home by taxi. (photo: Alika Qareli)

Information gathered during the preliminary criminal investigation regarding the accused (Alika Kareli, Bolotashvili, Djioshvili and Rasmadze), was sent to the Gori district Court. The investigation was carried out by investigators of the Tbilisi Special Operation Department. The detainees are accused of kidnapping Nonikashvili in order to extort money.

One day last year, neighbors noticed that Nonikashvili wasn’t at home. They informed his relatives about the situation immediately. Rumors spread in the village that the old man was kidnapped from his house at night. Many villagers thought that he was taken hostage and that his captures were demanding a ransom.

Relatives and children of Grigol Nonikashvili refused to comment on the situation. Everyone in the village knew that the old man was kidnapped in order to extort money from the family. A year later the man was sent back home in extremely poor and deteriorating health.

One of the villagers said in his conversation with the Human Rights Center that the old man was able to recall every detail of the passed year. He told of the conditions he was kept in throughout his ordeal and the inhuman treatment he received. It became clear that he was initially kept in the house of his brother-in-law and later somewhere in South Ossetia. Very often he was forced to work menial odd jobs, such as picking apples in order to make use of him. The kidnappers sent him home only after he became ill. However, Grigol Nonikashvili lived only for three days, which is believed to be related to the mysterious medicine that his captures gave him during his long tribulation.

Although the materials on the criminal case were sent to the court, the judge stated that the information would not be made public until a thorough discussion begins. “We should interrogate victims and witnesses… We cannot make the case materials public,” they stated at the court.

Family members of Nonikashvili refused to testify during the investigation or make comments and are not going to appear in court. The neighbors of the family said that the relatives are behaving in this manner in order to avoid further complications. More precisely, Alika Kareli is a cousin of the Shida Katrli Regional Governor, Mikheil Kareli. In addition, the neighbors advised the Human Rights Center not to show any interest regarding the case because the center may be asking for trouble.

The details of the crime will become public at the trial. However, the relatives of Nonikashvili are not anticipating a fair verdict.

Saba Tsitsikashvili, Gori