Ombudsman Supposes Influential People Are Involved in Teenagers’ Murder Case
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, June 8
Georgia’s Public Defender Nino Lomjaria says there is a suspicion that some financially influential people are involved in the murder case of two teenagers – Levan Dadunashvili and Davit Saralidze, brutally killed in a street brawl on Khorava Street, December 1, 2017.
Lomjaria made the statement in her interview with TV 1, commenting on the case, investigation of which was relaunched after massive protest rallies and the resignation of the Chief Prosecutor of Georgia.
The Public Defender is studying the case and is mediator between the government and the killed teenagers’ parents.
Lomjaria said that she is halfway through the case materials and that there are already many questions.
“The case revealed several sides, where some influential people are involved. These sides are not only the families of the defendants or witnesses, but people who have not been charged yet,” she added.
The Public Defender noted that the investigation materials show that the investigation was faulty. According to her, the reason for this is the investigation’s superficial study of the case.
“Some necessary investigative activities had not been carried out…And some questionings were superficial or even not conducted,” Lomjaria added.
The Ombudsman says if this case is properly investigated, it will change the whole system because it will reveal not only the faults of the investigative agencies and the court, but also the systemic problems in educational space.
“It is alleged this incident comes from bullying at school, which has not been studied yet,” she added.
Lomjaria’s statements were responded by Nino Javakhadze, the Deputy Interior Minister, who said that the Public Defender has just started to study the case and it too early to make a conclusion yet.
"The investigation is underway at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The investigation was launched a few months ago.We will examine everything and if the perpetrators are identified, they will be held accountable. Some new circumstances have been identified at the trial and we are actively studying them," Javakhadze added.
On May 31, Tbilisi City Court announced its verdict in the case, found two minors guilty for the stabbing of two teenage boys.
The judge found one of the detainees guilty for premeditated murder of one of the victims - Levan Dadunashvili, while another detainee was found guilty for the attempted murder of Davit Saralidze. The court did not say who in fact killed Saralidze.
Saralidze’s father calls on the government and investigative agencies to detain his son’s murderer. He gave time to the government until June 10, otherwise claims to resume massive protest rallies.
