Ombudsman Demands Punishment of Village Sarachlo’s Administrator

Tbilisi, 23.08.06. ‘Media News’ – The ombudsman of Georgia demands punishment of Ramaz Sopiev, the administrator of the village Sarachlo, Bolnisi district.

According to the Public defender’s Office, Sopiev has taken away passports and IDs from Georgian population on the 14th of August. From others, who did not have any documentation, he demanded leaving the village. Sopiev did not give any explanation, why he was taking the IDs away.

On the 22nd of August, the inhabitants of village contacted Ombudsman’s Office. One of the victims, Klara Akobidze, is visiting Sarachlo for more then six years with her family and working on the ground. Georgians and Azeris there had a good relations all the time, however, they had a conflict with each other and with village administrator this year. According to the inhabitants, Sopiev is violating the laws.

Ramaz Sopiev declared to the Ombudsman’s Office that he has to know everything about people, who are entering the region due to the high criminal situation. On the same evening, Sopiev has beaten up Azeri citizen Husein Kanjaliev, who had Georgian workers in his house.

According to the Georgian legislation, citizen of Georgia has right to choose a place for living and traveling within the country. If citizen is living on the new place more then 6 months, the registration should be made in public registration office and not in the village Administration. Moreover, Georgians were only staying in this village for 5 months, so they did not need any registration.

Public Defender of Georgia thinks that Sopiev exaggerated his duties and demands launching a criminal case against him from the General Prosecutor’s Office.

NGOs Demand To Prolong Checking of Voter’s List

Tbilisi, 23.08.2006, ‘Media News’ – NGO ‘New Generation-New Initiative’ asks from the parliament to pay attention to the gaps, which exist in the election code, otherwise it will cause serious problems during the elections.

NGO thinks that method of checking voters by visiting them in the houses in un effective and will take time. ‘New Generation-New Initiative’ demands to prolong checking process till the end of September, when population is back from holidays.

The Central Electoral Committee of Georgia has established special groups, who will visit every voter at home during 20 days.  The list will be checked and people, who have passed away, will be removed from the register.

Ministry of Internal Affairs Accused in Discrimination of Azeris living in Georgia

Tbilisi, 24.08.2006, ‘Media News’ – Azeri organizations, working in Georgia have established joint organization – The Council of Azeris, living in Georgia. The central office of newly established organization is situated in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. According to the local media, “the organization was established to suppress chauvinistic approach of Georgian state”.

According to one of the members on Council, Dashgin Giulmamedov, Georgian government is discriminating Azeris. Giulmamedov said that ultranationalist Georgians have spread proclamation ‘Azeris – Get Away from Our Country!’

Giulmamedov thinks that ultranationalists are supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Special Operation Conducted in Khobi

On the 23rd of August, late in the night law enforcers have conduvted special operation, in order to arrest criminals. Criminals opened the fire to police. During the shooting, one of the criminals Khvicha Kokia was killed and the head of poti police Irakli Jikia was wounded. Jikia was immediately transferred to the hospital and operated. He is now in reanimation.

Special operation was conducted by regional police of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and the Department of Poti Police.

Nato Berulava from Zugdidi