Patrol Inspectors First Beat and Then Detained a Watchman

Human Rights Center demanded to launch a criminal case against Vakhtang Zatikashvili and Giorgi Naskidashvili, inspectors of the Patrol Police Kakheti Regional Department.

Lali Chamiashvili, a resident of the village of Akhasheni in the Gurjaani district, applied to the Human Rights Center for help. In the evening of October 21, 2006 patrol inspectors physically assaulted her husband, Igor Chamiashvili, who worked as a watchman for the wine store-house and then detained him for robbery.

Igor Chamiashvili said in his testimony that at night, he left the watchman room to fetch some water. Coming back, he saw a strange car in the yard. The door to the door, he had locked, was open. Two young men and women were in the room. They had laid the table and  were drinking alcohol.

“One boy was tall and thin. The second was a bit shorter and stouter. The shorter asked me they wanted to stay alone with the woman and if I could find any bed for them. I refused him saying similar things were prohibited in the area. But for the second time he demanded and I led him to the wine cellar. Another tall boy remained in my room with another woman. I was waiting for them in the yard. A coat was hanging on the car and I replaced it and hung on the branch of the nearest tree. Having left the room, they asked about the coat and I showed them it. They searched the coat and said there was not money in the pocket. I said I did not know anything about the money. They beat me severely; hit me with something blunt too. Finally they called for the police and detained. I learned at the police station that those boys were patrol policemen,” said Chamiashvili in his testimony during the preliminary investigation.

The conclusion of the expert Kantroshvili confirmed the fact of Chamiashvili’s physical assault. “The man is injured with hard, blunt thing. The injuries were made earlier than the accident is dated according to the case material,” said the expert.

Human Rights Center concerns about the situation and calls upon the corresponding bodies to react on it immediately. It must be pointed out that other citizens also complain about Zatikasvhili. Some time ago, Diana Kachlishvili and Zurab Imerlishvili with their little children were restricted from their freedom and the policeman did not let them get out of the car for some time near Sagarejo. However, Zatikashvili still works at the patrol police.

The criminal case against Chamiashvili will be discussed on February 20 at the Gurjaani district court. Lia Khuroshvili, a lawyer for the Human Rights Center defends the accused at the court.

Gela Mtivlishvili