Strikes on “Jehovah’s Witnesses Becoming Frequent

Strikes on “Jehovah’s Witnesses Becoming Frequent 

Tbilisi.13.07.05.Media News. According to the information provided by the Public Defenders Office in Kutaisi on 26 June, a group of 50-60 people gathered infront of the house at 44, Tabidze Street and demanded that the repairs going on inside be stopped or they would burn down the house and physically assault the owners of the property.

The new owners, members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious group, were afraid of confrontation and so called for the police patrol.

According to the words of the Public Defender, Mr Sozar Subar, the police patrol took into custody two Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mr X. Norakidze and Mr T. Chogidze, to the first office of Kutaisi Internal Affairs Police Department whereupon they confiscated their driving licenses and identity cards and where they also were offended by the inspector, Mr Shamil Robakidze.

According to the statement of the Public Defenders Office, this type of action towards Jehovah’s Witnesses has been going on everyday and has mostly been promoted and guided by the Orthodox priest, Father Zosime.

The violence towards the Jehovah’s Witnesses was repeated on 5 July when the Public Defenders representatives arrived in Kutaisi in order to obtain more information about the above mentioned situation.

“On the same night, a couple of persons threw bricks at the people inside the house and shouting at them for daring to ask the Public Defender for help. There were injuries and windows were broken as well”said Mr Subar. No single person has been arrested from amongst the group of offenders and the criminal court case is open only on incident from 5 July.