NGOs appeal to the government and international organizations on Irakli Bebua’s case
By Anastasia Sokhadze
Tuesday, October 13
Up to 10 non-governmental organizations operating in Georgia call on the Georgian government, international organizations and the diplomatic corps to be involved in the protection and release of Irakli Bebua, detained in Gali on September 30th.
“The illegal detention of Irakli Bebua is especially noteworthy due to the political context and sensitivity of the case. There are harsh comments on the arrested Irakli Bebua on social networks, some demand his severe punishment ... Restrictions on the use of legal mechanisms during the occupation create a special sense of impunity,” read the statement.
According to the authors of the statement, Irakli Bebua was sentenced to 30 days in prison as a measure of restraint and remains in the Sokhumi isolator. Bebua's family has limited communication with him and does not have reliable information about his treatment and health condition. Bebua was allegedly appointed a treasury lawyer and the issue of his effective protection.
Bebua was arrested by de-facto law enforcement in Abkhazia on September 30th on charges of burning an Abkhazian flag. In the video, Bebua confirms this fact, but states ‘that he has nothing against Abkhazians.’
He is accused of committing crimes under several articles of the de-facto government of occupied Abkhazia, including insulting state symbols, which is punishable by up to 1 year in prison; Deliberate damage or destruction of property under aggravating circumstances, which carries a sentence of 4 to 7 years in prison, and illegal possession of a weapon, punishable by 2 to 5 years in prison.
Irakli Bebua's family has been displaced from Abkhazia since 1993. In 2016, he returned to Gali to take care of his elderly grandmother and could not return to Tbilisi due to the lack of documents required for crossing the border.
There are a number of illegal detainment of Georgians in the occupied territory, including the obscure death of Irakli Kvaratskhelia in the de-facto penitentiary, the tragic cases of the loss of life of Giga Otkhozoria, Archil Tatunashvili and Davit Basharuli.
The situation in Abkhazian prisons and inadequate conditions for prisoners there, who are deprived of basic rights and adequate living conditions in penitentiary institutions, remain a severe issue. Unadapted prison conditions carry high risks of spreading diseases and do not provide minimal guarantees of protection and respect for privacy.
The authors of the statement call on the International Organizations and the Diplomatic Corps to take appropriate political, diplomatic, and administrative action to secure the life, safety, and rights of detainee Irakli Bebua.
International organizations operating on the territory of Abkhazia should facilitate the communication of the detained Irakli Babua with his family and the process of studying and monitoring his physical and psychological condition.
The signatory organizations are the Center for Human Rights Education and Monitoring, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, the Center for Human Rights, the Institute for Democracy Research, the Institute for Tolerance and Diversity, the Platform for Peace and the Center for Peace and Civic Development.
The detainee's family says Bebua’s life is in danger and is asking for help.
Georgian Security Service responded to the arrest of the young man, saying they hold Russia accountable. According to them, the detainee is in Gali and his life is not in danger.
A criminal case has been launched against Irakli Bebua under several articles.
