Demonstration to Protest Silence of Rustavi 2

Ana Sheshaberidze

On November 20, family of Nika Gelashvili, who died during the collapse of the building of the “Star Academy” held protest demonstration in front of the building of the TV-Company “Rustavi 2’. The Gelashvilis protested the indifference of the TV-company to the accident and demanded to start new investigation of the fact.

On April 25, 2009 the building of the Rustavi 2 in Sandro Euli Street collapsed at 5:00 am. At that moment, participants of the project Star Academy and technical personnel of the company were in the company. The accident ended with the death of two employees of the TV Company “Rustavi 2” – Nika Gelashvili and Giorgi Gabunia; other four employees were badly injured.

Friends of Nika Gelashvili, representatives of the political parties and non-governmental organization participated in the demonstration. They prepared a petition to the director general of the Rustavi 2. “Announce your position about the court decision,” it was requested in the petition. Silence of the Rustavi 2 was criticized by the demonstrators with caricatures.

The family of Nika Gelashvili does not agree with the court decision which states that one of the detainees Davit Gvasalia (employee of the building company “Art-X) was released from the court room without any fines or liabilities.

Attorney of the family Merab Chikovani appeals to the chief prosecutor’s office to start complete investigation of the accident. He said the investigation blamed only Gvasalia and did not pay attention to other people. Of course, only Gvasalia could not make decision on destroying the main wall of the building which caused the collapse later. Gvasalia is only a builder of the company “Art-X”.

The family of Nika Gelashvili will try to achieve agreement on impartial investigation and to expose the people who were really responsible for the death of the two persons.