Police Detains ex-Senior Law Enforcer One Day Before the Murder-Case Rally
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, June 11
The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs detained the former deputy head of the Prosecutor’s Office Human Resources Department Mirza Subeliani on Saturday just a day before the opposition announced a rally about the high profile murder case of two teenage boys in central Tbilisi last year.
The father of one of the 16-year-old killed boys Zaza Saralidze claims that Subeliani, whose son was taking part in the deadly brawl, did not report about the crime and using his previous state post he created serious obstacles for fair investigation of the case.
Subeliani was detained for not reporting the crime, which envisages 2-4 years in prison. The Interior Ministry announced that he pleaded guilty.
Saralidze says that an alleged killer of his son is teenager Mikheil Kalandia, who is Subeliani’s relative and the man has done its utmost to avoid a legal responsibility for Kalandia.
Saralidze says that with the detention the Georgian government tries to “cheat” him. He says that Subeliani must have also been detained for influencing the case. Saralidze demands the detention of Subeliani’s son and wife, “who were at the scene and knew who killed my son.”
Saralidze announces that large-scale rallies against the government will continue.
Sergi Kapanadze, one of the leaders of the European Georgia opposition, who chairs a special parliamentary commission investigating the case, says that Subeliani’s detention was a right step, but the step did not give answers to many questions.
The Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili commented on the case on June 8, saying that unlike the previous state leadership, the Georgian Dream government listens to the people.
He said the Georgian Dream government has taken “unprecedented steps” to investigate the crime. He mentioned that the ruling party:
Has supported the creation of a parliamentary commission to investigate the case.
The majority of the commission is composed of opposition lawmakers and is chaired by a member of the opposition.
Chief Prosecutor Irakli Shotadze showed a high responsibility and quit his post.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has renewed its investigation over allegation of concealing of a crime and exercising pressure on witnesses.
Hundreds of people have been summoned for interrogation.
Two 16-year-old boys were stabbed to death in a school brawl in Tbilisi on December 1, 2017. Davit Saralidze died in hospital due to multiple wounds in his back, while Levan Dadunashvili died immediately.
The court has charged two people so far, G.B. with ten years and six months for premeditated murder of Dadunashvili and G.J. with nine years and nine months for attempted murder of David Saralidze.
Since the court verdict failed to identify who killed the 16-year-old David Saralidze, who died from multiple knife wounds. His father Zaza saralidze started a protest rally in the end of May demanding the government to hold the killers accountable.
The rallies were joined by the opposition parties, demanding the government change.
After the meeting with the PM last week, Saralidze gave time until June 10 to the government to uncover case details and punish offenders.
