Georgian Interior Ministry comments on recent arrests

Georgian Interior Minister Irakli Garibashvili denies any political content of the recent arrests. He stated this during a round table discussion in Tbilisi on Wednesday.

"We take every arrest cautiously. The local and international community as well as the press observe these processes with great attention. It's a shame that our opponents call all arrests politically motivated. We do not agree with this and are ready to answer any questions. I would like to repeat that we treat every person's arrest with extreme caution and the main principle that we follow in our work which is being fair, lawful and humane, is of great importance for us. We are going to follow it strictly," Garibashvili said.

He said none of the employees were fired for political reasons.

"We are very comfortable working with them. Many steps were taken regarding de-politicisation of the police," Garibashvili said.

In recent years, the Department of Constitutional Security and the Special Operations Department has become a severe repressive machine and their abolition was demanded by the public, he said.

Former Georgian Interior and Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia, former chief of joint staff of Georgian armed forces Giorgi Kalandadze and brigade commander Zurab Shamatava were arrested in November and are all accused of mistreating soldiers.

They are charged under part 3 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia which includes abuse of power followed by 'an insult to the personal dignity of the victim which carries imprisonment from five to eight years.

Akhalaia had additional charges filed against him under article 143 namely 'illegal suppression of freedom'. This article carries imprisonment of up to 12 years.

All three detainees deny the charges.


/Trend/