Wanted Adjarian Officials Named
Georgian General Prosecutor unveiled list of Adjarian officials wanted by the law enforcers for different crimes. Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze is not on the list.
The General Prosecutor’s Office has brought criminal charges against several top officials of the Adjarian authorities. All of them are accused of violation of Georgia’s territorial integrity, disobedience to the central authorities and illegal takeover of military authorities.
Head of Kobuleti district of Adjara Tariel Khalvashi, Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze’s bodyguard Davit Khalvashi, as well as Batumi police official Vazha Tabakidze, employee of Adjarian prosecutor’s office Nodar Iakobidze and deputy interior minister of Adjara Davit Bakuridze are accused of attacks against the opposition activists and disobedience to the central authorities.
Adjarian deputy interior minister is also accused of masterminding murder of Chief of the Emergency Situations Department of Adjarian Interior Ministry Temur Inaishvili.
Adjarian security minister Soso Gogitidze, his deputy Gogi Kupreishvili and deputy interior minister Davit Bakuridze will face charges for masterminding attack against the Rustavi 2 television journalist Vakhtang Komakhidze, who was severely beaten up in Adjara on March 5.
“Adjarian Interior Minister Jemal Gogitidze is also linked to the above mentioned crimes [except murder of interior ministry’s official and attack on journalist]; however, we cannot charge him, as he is member of the Georgian Parliament. We will request the Parliament to lift MP immunity from Gogitidze as soon as possible,” General Prosecutor Irakli Okruashvili said at a news briefing on March 16.
Speaking about Adjarian leader, the Prosecutor General said, “no criminal charges have been brought against Aslan Abashidze and his son, Batumi Mayor Giorgi Abashidze, yet.”
“Adjarian leader still has a chance to avoid criminal prosecution,” chief prosecutor said.
The move from General Prosecutor’s Office comes after escalation of tension between the central authorities and the Adjarian leadership.
