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Accused George Fedorov ( at present he is at the Tbilisi isolator 1 ) writes:
This July 21 I was detained by the Telavi Police. I was convicted of stealing personal property. They forced me to take the blame of robbing Mr. Lachishvili's apartment upon myself. Though I was not guilty and tried to protect myself as much as possible, they beat me severely. It continued several days, as a result of which I got concussion of the brain and the police took me to hospital, where I went through an operation (appendicitis). After leaving the hospital policeman Amisulashvili and investigator Kazarashvili still threatened me . They forced me to take the blame of robbing a certain apartment and a shop "Ocean" upon myself. Still I refuted categorically. I suspected, that both policemen and investigators were greatly interested in revealing the robbery of "Ocean", as they told me to take the blame upon myself several times and threatened, that despite the operation, they would force me to sign the false evidence.
I admit my guilt in connection with robbing an iron shop and I am ready to bear the punishment. But I categorically demand to punish those representatives of law-enforcement bodies, who almost destroyed me physically and bereaved me of faith of truth, kindness and democratic establishment in our country. At present , as a result of their torture, I am undergoing a cure in prison hospital. Three months have passed since my detention and the investigation is being dragged out, maybe, with the purpose of creating new "materials". My family has no home and the kind people have given a shelter to them. My children are starving."
October 1996
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This October 29 my father Giorgi Esaiashvili and I were driving to our garden, which is located in Vazisubani. Some parts of an old car were scattered about on the road. I took some of them. Suddenly the policemen came and took us to the Vazisubani division of Isani Police Station, where they beat and insulted us. I was beaten by Tamaz Javakhishvili. They asked me to whom I was giving the goods for selling. They did not listen to our requests and delayed us for 4 hours. Then they transferred us to the Varketili Police Station. The Varketili Police examined the place of an incident, they guessed that we were not guilty and released us. I want to thank the employees of the Varketili Police Station for their cordiality. As to those persons, who have insulted us, are still working in the police.
30.10.96
Alexander Esaiashvili
III estate, VIII bl. 12 apt. Tbilisi
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On September 26, 1996, the Court of Isani Region (Judge Tamaz Barbakadze) discussed a criminal case against Besik Kharatishvili and others. Mr. Kharatishvili said, that during his preliminary investigation he was forced to give false evidences under physical pressure. In particular, he said: "I was tortured with electric current, they pricked needles in my heels, still I refused to give false evidences. Then they made me listen to Mr. Agdgomelashvili's evidence and I guessed, that if I did not say what they wanted, they would torture me to death. They wrote evidences themselves, or dictated to me".
As a result of this torture Besik Kharatishvili has got physical injuries. He lost hearing from one ear, and his two ribs are broken. According to the examination, which was held before his detention, he had no injuries. The Court did not comply with the defendant's request to hold an examination in order to confirm his evidence about torturing.
During the preliminary investigation a lawyer did not attend Mr. Kharatishvili's interrogation. Moreover, a lawyer has not seen him at all till the end of the case. During the trial the Court did not interrogate those lawyers, who participated in the preliminary investigation, it did not even ascertain, whether the defendant's rights were really violated during the preliminary investigation.
The Court sentenced Mr. Besik Khratishvili to 10 years of imprisonment
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11 months have passed since the beginning of the preliminary investigation of 15 years old Giorgi Kochlamazashvili's case ( investigator D. Sabelashvili ) at the Tbilisi Investigation Department of Internal Ministry of Georgia. An action is brought according to part 2 of article 110 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
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Since October 14, 1994, Tariel Klibadze has been under the preliminary investigation. The time limits for detention are roughly violated.
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Mr. Baadur Bedukadze was convicted in 1994 according to article 108 (manslaughter) of the Criminal Code of Georgia. He was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment. On June 2, 1995, he was released according to the amnesty.
The Urban Court has repealed the sentence and brought an action again. In June, 1996, Mr. Bedukadze was again convicted for the same crime, the case was returned to investigation and then sent to the Supreme Court for consideration; now its article has been changed ( article 104 - premeditated murder ).
In fact Mr. Bedukadze should be convicted for one and the same crime for the third time.
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17 months have passed since David Gelashvili's detention. Time limits for detention are roughly violated against him.
1 There was an incident during Convention of the Public Deputies of the USSR, when the majority of the deputies obstructed Andrei Sakharov's speech and demaded that the fifth microphone was turned off for him.