Ombudsman Says MIA Spokesman Should Resign

Georgian Public Defender Sozar Subari requested on February 24 that Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili sack spokesman of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) Guram Donadze over Donadze’s wrongdoings related with the investigation into the murder case of Sandro Girgvliani.

According to the Public Defender, Guram Donadze, who was interrogated over this case, misinformed the investigators by saying that this murder case could have been linked to a struggle between two criminal groups.

The murder case of Sandro Girgvliani became the focus of public attention after the weekly program “Droeba” – on the Tbilisi-based Imedi television station – aired some details of the case on February 12, which alleged that top officials from the Interior Ministry, including Guram Donadze, as well as the wife of Interior Minister Merabishvili, Tako Salakaia, could have been linked to this case.

“Investigation of Sandro Girgvliani will be a test for the Ministry of Internal Affairs,” Subari said. 

Public Defender Subari also said that Donadze’s wrongdoings also involve the posting of photos of 20 people who were initially suspected of having links with the stolen cell phone trade on the official web-site of the Interior Ministry. Later, all charges were dropped against these 20 people and they were released.

Sozar Subari also said that there have been a number of complaints against Guram Donadze about him committing verbal abuse against journalists.

“I do not think this the right person for this position,” Subari said.