On June 19th the Minister of Interior Irakli Garibashvili presented content of the material to diplomats, which were found in special cache located in Samegrelo region and on June 20th he organized the meeting with Georgian NGOs and Media representatives for the same purpose. During the meeting Minister also stated that persons, who were depicted in video tapes in the process of torture and inhumane treatment against victims, have already been detained.

The officers of State Security Agency of MIA detained three employees of Samegrel-Zemo Svaneti Regional Police Main Division on the fact of illegal purchase and keeping of firearms as well as on the fact of illegal restriction of freedom and torture. Law enforcers also detained the person who sexually abused persons depicted in the video tapes. In the course of investigation it was established that above mentioned individuals were involved in torture and inhumane treatment towards the detainees.

“In connection with the mentioned criminal case the guiltiness of former MIA high ranking officials (Megis Kardava, Kokhta Kodua and Davit Chaginava) has also been revealed. According to the details of investigation Kokhta Kodua and Davit Chaginava had left the country and were included in international database for wanted persons. As for Megis Kardava, he is wanted by Interpol under the red notice”- the statement of MIA reads.

According to the MIA, currently investigative activities are being held against acting employee of the Ministry of Defense, two former employees of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Regional Police Main Division, former head of Zugdidi Police Division as well as against former employee of Zugdidi Police Division.

According to the Minister Garibashvili, the materials found in Zugdidi special cache is much more harder to see than the videos spread in September last year. As he stated in Rustavi 2, these records were done in 2011 when Vano Merabishvli was the Minister of Interior and it shows two especially grave episodes: “it speaks about the confession of a very grave crime. We found out that one of those victims were not even tried and imprisoned. He was just tortured but could not get preferred confession. The second person who was tortured, was detained with absolutely different blame and was imprisoned for using and carrying drugs”.

Irakli Garibashvili underlines the fact that those video records describes the crimes committed during the  Merabishvili being the Minister or Interior thus every (formal) high ranking official should be taken to responsibility.
The US ambassador Richard Norland calls for the Georgian government to immediately investigate the facts recorded in the Videos found in Samegrelo.
“I am informed and shocked with the information I received from my colleagues. They have told me about the facts recorded in the video. The USA calls Georgian government to immediately investigate recorded fact”- stated Richard Norland.

Georgian NGOs also commented on the video records after the meeting at MIA. Tamar Gabisonia, the executive director of the organization Article 42 of the Constitution mentions that it was very hard and horrible footage. She thinks that “MIA is facing a serious challenge to investigate these grave crimes comprehensively, effectively and completely as well as  every person participating in the crime and not only executors must be revealed and punished. In addition to that, the security of the victims as well as the alleged persons and their family members must be protected”.

Aleko Tskitishvili, the head of the Human Rights Centre considers that protection and rehabilitation of the victims of torture is the most important challenge for the current government. “MIA and generally the government should do everything to avoid identification of the victims of torture in order to prevent retraumatization of the victims. To show such horrific video material to broader society will not support to the investigation. The rights of victims as well as alleged persons should be defended during the investigation.”

Nino Gvedashvili