Majority Criticizes Fact-Finding Commission’s Conclusion over Teenagers’ Murder Case
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, September 7
Eka Beselia, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Legal Issues, criticizes the conclusion of the parliamentary fact-finding commission, over the murder case of two teenagers on December 1, 2017.
The majority MP says that the conclusion, prepared by the European Georgia members, who form the majority in the commission with nine members, is “direct interference in the judiciary.”
There were two conclusions of the fact-finding committee - one prepared by the opposition European Georgia, and the second prepared by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party members. Nine out of total 17 members of the committee supported the conclusion of the opposition, while four supported the GD document.
Beselia says the conclusion of GD was the one who had to be approved, saying it is in line with the law and addresses all the problems revealed during the investigation.
“When the work is going on a criminal case, the Commission should not exceed its mandate and interfere with the justice,” Beselia stated about the conclusion of the European Georgia.
According to Sergi Kapanadze, chairman of the fact-finding commission, their conclusion is legitimate, which is to be executed by the authorities.
“In my opinion, the authorities should already execute this conclusion. The conclusion of the investigative commission, set up by the Parliament, is legitimate. It is wrong to say that this document requires further legitimacy and approval. Now it is up to the government to fulfill the recommendations stated in conclusion," said Sergi Kapanadze.
A 67-page conclusion prepared by the European Georgia recommends the launch of an investigation against former Chief Prosecutor Irakli Shotadze.
The commission accuses Shotadze of abuse of power and negligence. The commission concludes that the investigation was biased concerning ex-official Mirza Subeliani and his family members, as Subeliani’s son was at the scene when two minors, David Saralidze, and Levan Dadunashvili, were stabbed to death in a brawl in Central Tbilisi.
Members of the European Georgia also demand that the issue of political responsibility of the Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs be raised.
Zaza Saralidze, the father of killed Davit Saralidze, claims that the government is covering up the killers of his son and says the conclusion presented by the GD majority, which was not supported by the commission, is shameful.
The man claims he will start mass protest rallies from September 10.
"I am grateful to the Commission which approved the right conclusion because the society sees the violations committed during the investigation process. Another government will continue the investigation because the ruling team is covering up my son's murderers," said Saralidze.
The Khorava Street incident took place in central Tbilisi, during which two teenagers, Davit Saralidze and Levan Dadunashvili, were stabbed to death in a brawl on December 1, 2017.
Zaza Saralidze asks the authorities to show him concrete results and arrest his son’s killers and all people involved, claiming he will not stop protests until all the offenders are held responsible.
