People Are Arrested on Political Grounds in Batumi

Maka Malakmadze, Batumi

Zurab Avaliani, chairperson of Adjara office of the Nino Burjanadze’s political party “Democratic Movement for the United Georgia” and two activists were arrested in Batumi. The lawyer was not allowed to attend the search. Law enforcers do not comment on the fact.

Masked members of the special unit appeared in Melikishvili Street # 1, Batumi at 5:00 am. They opened the gate noisily and rushed up to the second floor where Zurab Avaliani’s flat is located. “There was noise and movement of furniture. About half an hour later they went downstairs and asked to follow them upstairs as witnesses. We refused. If they knew that Zurab had something illegal in his house why they had not called us as witness from the very beginning,” said neighbors.

The neighbors saw who the officers of the special unit brought huge bag downstairs. As masked people claimed they had discovered anti-tank weapon in the bathroom of Zurab Avaliani.

Ramaz Shanidze, attorney of Avaliani, arrived at the place but he was not allowed to participate in the search or other activities. The attorney claims that special unit breached basic human rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other normative acts. “I had right to protect him according to the law. Despite the provided documents special unit did not allow me to attend the search and forced me out of the place. It is illegal detention.”

The only information the political party has about the detainees is that they were taken to Tbilisi. Besides Zurab Avaliani two more activists from the party, Nugzar and Dato Gograchadzes were also detained. One of them was arrested in his house in Chakvi; the house was searched and the detainee was sent to Tbilisi.

Otar Tsetskhladze, representative of the Adjara Office of the Democratic Movement for the United Georgia: “the government uses old methods: threatening and blackmailing. This party is one of the leaders in our region. They thought if leaders of the party are arrested, the protest demonstration will not be organized on April 9. It is political oppression.”

The Human Rights Center got in touch with the main department within the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Adjara Autonomous Republic; however, Irakli Motskobili, the head of the department is on business trip; his deputy Resan Kontselidze did not comment on the detention because he was busy at the meeting.