Presence of political prisoners in Georgia recognized

Georgian parliament adopted a resolution recognizing the presence of political prisoners in the country on Wednesday.

By 77 votes in favor, 14 against, the parliament's members approved the list of political prisoners and politically persecuted persons.

The Parliamentary Human Rights Committee has already declared 186 people as political prisoners, and 22 people - politically persecuted persons.

The resolution of the parliament considers the following persons as political prisoners: former Chief of the Border Police of Georgia Badri Bitsadze, former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, ex-employees of South Ossetian administration of Dmitry Sanakoev, brothers Yanik and Jemal Karkusov, former head of the Forest Department Bidzina Giorgobiani, businessman, former owner of "Rustavi 2" TV company, Kibar Khalvashi, former Shida Kartli governor Mikheil Kareli and others.

The list of those who are considered as "political prisoner," are persons involved in "Enver" case (Ruslan Galogre, Yuri Skrylnikov and others), military mutiny in the base in Mukhrovani (Koba Otanadze, Levan Amiridze and others), the terrorist attacks on the territory of Georgia in 2009-2010 (Merab Kolbaia, Lasha, Malkaz, Goderdzi Arkania and others), persons arrested during the dispersal of the opposition rally on the night of May 26, 2011 (Amiran Merebashvili, David Kiguradze and others), opposition activist Melor Vachnadze and others.

Work on the list will continue. The Parliamentary Human Rights and Integration Committee's Chairperson Eka Beselia said several dozen applications for recognition of citizens as victims of political persecution have been received.


/Trend/