Ombudsman’s Tough-Worded Statement Slams Interior Ministry

In a statement issued on March 13 Georgian Public Defender Sozar Subari said that investigation of Sandro Girgvliani murder case “is a serious test for the government,” which has already “challenged the achievements” reported in various fields by the Interior Ministry.

He said that so far the only answer received from the authorities regarding the investigation of this high-profile murder case is that “there are punitive teams within the Interior Ministry, which are above of laws and which can liquidate any person in case of will.”

Sozar Subari’s statement also says that capture of four officers from the Interior Ministry’s Department for Constitutional Security, who are suspected of committing this crime, “failed to remove doubts” persisting in the society regarding the murder case.

“Those officials, who are suspected by society of having links with this case, would have been resigned in any democratic state, or in a state which has an ambition to be a democratic,” Subari said.

He also warned that the Girgvliani murder case has “challenged successes of the authorities.”

“Success in fight against corruption, drug trade, terrorism, organized crime has been questioned, because it is difficult to believe in a success achieved by the hands of cold-hearted murderers,” Sozar Subari said.

He also noted that this high-profile murder case has triggered questions in the society: “Are we building the state, where the rights and life of people are protected?! Has the major value – human life – been depreciated and maybe just those structures are threatening this value, which are designed to protect it?”

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