Melor Vachnadze, Giorgi Oniani and Revaz Revazishvili Spoke Up About the Intimidation against Them

Members of the Youth HQ of the Movement “April 9” Melor Vachnadze, Giorgi Oniani and Revaz Revazishvili made detailed statements about the oppression they endured at the police stations. They have serious injuries on the face and body.

The activists stated at the press conference today that at the police stations law enforcers beat them with hands, legs, truncheons, butts of automatic guns. Melor Vachnadze stated the high-ranking officers ordered their subordinates not to beat detainees in the face in order to avoid injuries.

“They wrapped me in clothes and started beating me only after that; nevertheless I have some bruises,” said Vachnadze. He was insulted and physically assaulted by the officers at the police station of Old Tbilisi. Afterwards he was taken to the police station N7 in Vazha-Pshavela Avenue where so called ZonderGroups created corridors of shame for them and made them pass through it; then they were taken into the room and beaten there.

“I was not allowed to breathe in the car; I was pushed into it together with 6 people and could not breathe. The officers ordered the policemen not to beat me in the face. Two friends of Nika Avaliani (journalist of the Public Broadcasting who was physically assaulted by the detainees) were in the police station; they watched how policemen treated me and were happy. The policemen wanted me to say some information; they ordered me to sign the document stating I had not complaints about the investigation however I did not make any testimony and neither singed anything,” said Vachnadze and added he was taken into another room last night in order to prevent him from hearing the information about the incident; the policemen turned on the water that hushed the noise. Vachnadze was medically examined only when he was placed in the isolator and only after his attorney categorically demanded it. He was injured before getting into the isolator.

15-year-old Rezo Revazishvili stated that 15 people arrived at his house and took him to the police station N 7. There he was insulted and physically assaulted. He was asked why he chased journalist Nika Avaliani. “They hit me with the butt of the automatic gun in the leg. I was compelled to say that opposition leaders gave me the truncheon. I was threatened with throwing in the Mtkvari River and raping. Some harassers were in masks and some were without masks. I was not allowed to get in touch with attorneys and parents. Initially they selected the attorney for me who suggested me not to mention physical assault in the statement. I wrote what they ordered me to write,” said Revazishvili.

Giorgi Oniani stated he was threatened with raping and insulted his family members as well.