NGOs Demand Fair Investigation on Zugdidi Incident

The “Coalition of Non-governmental Organizations for Democracy” condemned the October 28th Zugdidi incident and demanded appropriate punishment for the perpetrators.

Giorgi Chkheidze, the chairman of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and a member of the coalition, stated at a press conference today that the criminals who took part in the incident were only charged with violations of the Administrative Code, resulting in a fine. The coalition feels this is inadequate punishment for such offences. “We feel that since violence occurred on October 28 in Zugdidi and is defined under the Georgian Criminal Code as harassment-- of MPs as well as representatives of NGOs and other public figures. Thus, we call upon the government to take urgent measures to conduct an impartial investigation,” said Chkheidze.

Ucha Nanuashvili, executive director of the Human Rights Center considers that in witnessing the Zugdidi incident, “society saw the real face of the government”.

Zakaria Kutsnashvili, the chairman of the group “Law for People”, stated that without any official reaction to the Zugdidi protest dispersal, “challenged violence in Tbilisi” will certainly be witnesses at the November 2 protest in Tbilisi.

Source: Medianews