Melor Vachnadze who was Imprisoned for 14 Days Might Spend 7 Years in Prison

Ana Sheshaberidze

Melor Vachnadze, a member of a youth movement “Shemogviertdi” (Join Us) who was arrested on July 20, 2009 during a protest in front of the Parliament Hall is still in  pre trial detention.

He was arrested for blocking the parliament hall, committing minor hooliganizm and disobeying  the police. The Collegium on Administrative Cases of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced him to 14 days in prison.

While Melor Vachnadze was serving his 14 days of administrative prison sentence, another charge was initiated against him, which is misappropriation of a property of other person under Subparagraph (g) of Part II of Article 182 of Criminal Code of Georgia. He might face 4-7 years of prison term.

Natia Korkotadze, an attorney of Melor Vachandze states that a criminal case that was closed 2 years ago against Melor Vachnadze, has been opened again. The case was closed at the time due to a lack of  of a crime.

The story was as follows: several years ago Melor Vachnadze sold a car that belonged to his wife. He received only half of the money from the buyer. Then the new owner of the car damaged the car. Melor Vachnadze demanded the return of the car instead of another portion of money. Melor got the car back and then sold it again. The person who bought and then damaged the car is now a Special Operative Department officer. He is accusing Vachnadze of taking his car away. Melor Vachnadze denies the accusation.

Natia Korkotadze claims that Vachnadze was arrested for political reasons; she says his arrest is another example of how the opposition is persecuted in Georgia. Shestates that she will follow the case till the end and will not stop til the justice is done.

The trial of Melor Vachnadze has not started yet. The preliminary investigation is in process.

For more information, please refer to:

Activists of the Movement “Join Us” Joined the List of Political Prisoners  
 
The Family of Vachnadze Is Threatened