The Human Rights House Foundation asks Georgian authorities in a protest letter to guarantee the physical and psychological interity of Mr. Ucha Nanuashvili, the Executive Director of the independent Georgian organisation Human Rights Information and Documentation Center (HRIDC). (12-OCT-05)
From the Observatory, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) the non-governmental Human Rights House Foundation (HRH) has been informed about the acts of defamation and intimidation recently suffered by Mr. Ucha Nanuashvili, Executive Director of the independent Georgian organisation Human Rights Information and Documentation Center (HRIDC).
The Human Rights House Foundation is well aware of Mr. Naniashvili?s important work for minorities in Georgia and also his high standing among international human rights defenders. Last month, Mr. Naniashvili participated at the Human Rights House Network?s international conference, workshops and annual meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan.
According to the information received 27 September 2005, Mr. Ucha Nanuashvili had a telephone conversation with Mr. Kvaratskhelia Zaur, Head of the Department for Relations with Georgian Diasporas and Inter-Ethnic Relations at the Georgian President?s Office. Mr. Kvaratskhelia Zaur shouted and hurled insults at him, calling him an ?informer? and ?betrayer?.
The Human Rights House Foundation has learnt that HRIDC had already received several threats from high ranking officials in November 2004. For further information on this, please see the Observatory?s Annual Report for 2004.
The Human Rights House Foundation believes that these acts of defamation and intimidation are part of a more general context of hostility against independent human rights defenders in Georgia. Hence, the Human Rights House Foundation expresses its deep concern about these acts, recalling that they constitute flagrant violations of article 12.2 of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, which states that ?The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration?.
The Human Rights House Foundation asks Georgian authorities to:
? guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Ucha Nanuashvili, all HRIDC members, as well as all human rights defenders in the country as a whole; in accordance with the UN Declaration on the protection of human rights defenders (1998) in particular articles 1, which states that “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”
? put an end to all forms of harassment and defamation against human rights defenders;
? ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by Georgia.
