'I received a threat from Bidzina Ivanishvili' Ioseb Gogashvili says
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, August 12, 2022
The former deputy head of the State Security Service of Georgia, Soso Gogashvili, said that he received threats from Bidzina Ivanishvili in prison. As Gogashvili claims, they demand him to give their desired testimony.
"In the 12th institution, I received a threat from Bidzina Ivanishvili, that if I did not stop and give the desired testimony, me and my family would be destroyed. I might find out that my family was suffocated by CO, died in a fire or a car accident." said Gogashvili
In a 'better' case, Gogashvili said that they threatened his family members and the inner circle with imprisonment.
"I hold Bidzina Ivanishvili and his family responsible for the illegalities committed against my family and relatives. Together with my family, I will continue the fight for justice and continue the exposing campaign," said Gogashvili's statement.
According to the lawyers of Soso Gogashvili, after his arrest, the former high-ranking official of the Security Service received a phone call twice from the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Vakhtang Gomelauri and threatened him.
At the briefing, human rights defender Ramaz Chinchaladze spoke about the phone conversations between Gogashvili and the minister and noted that Gomelauri asked Gogashvili to give their desired testimony.
"On July 28, Ioseb Gogashvili, who is placed in the N12 penitentiary institution, was taken to the shower and he was pointed to the phone placed on the window shelf and was told that the phone would ring and he must answer it. In a few minutes, the phone rang. Ioseb Gogashvili answered the phone. And the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia was talking to him.
As Gogashvili states, there was quite a tense conversation between them, and the said conversation was mainly about threats. If Gogashvili did not keep silent, he must have considered the factors that could happen to him, his family and relatives. The main request to Gogashvili was that he should give the testimony they wanted on the issues that Gogashvili voiced already after his arrest through his social page. Regarding this issue, the conversation between Ioseb Gogashvili and the Minister of Internal Affairs took place in the same manner, as a result of being taken from the cell to the bathroom, the next day as well. During the second conversation, Gogashvili was promised that since it was necessary to silence not only him, but also his family members, they would bring his family members to the penitentiary institution with him, so that he could talk about silence and persuade them. This condition has been fulfilled" Chinchaladze said.
As the lawyer points out, Gogashvili has evidence of his removal from the cell and his conversation with Gomelauri.
The former high-ranking official appeals to the public defender, politicians, non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders and the diplomatic corps to protect his family.
Gogashvili is charged with 3 counts: illegal purchase-storage-carrying of firearms, exceeding official authority, and tampering with personal information or personal data.
