Irakli Edzgveradze, a member of the oppositional United National Movement party and a deputy of the Tbilisi City Council, was arrested by the Ministry of Internal Affairs at his home yesterday. He is currently being held in a temporary detention facility. According to his lawyer, Edzgveradze has visible signs of physical violence.
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"Irakli says he was abused in the garage. His body shows bruises and marks. The lawyer was not allowed to be present during his arrest, and after the arrest, we were not informed of his whereabouts. All of this constitutes a violation of the law, and I call on Koka Katsitadze's agency, the Special Investigation Service, to send investigators immediately and investigate the illegal actions of the police. They have committed a criminal offense - abuse of power. I also urge the public defender to take personal control of this case. The released footage clearly shows who is abusing Irakli Edzgveradze, and Irakli also knows who his abusers are," lawyer Lasha Tkesheladze told journalists.
Irakli Edzgveradze and another representative of the United National Movement in the city council, Irakli Nadiradze, were arrested on administrative charges on the evening of September 4 in Gldani.
"They called me and informed me that a group of individuals, not in police uniforms but in civilian clothes, had gathered near Irakli Edzgveradze. I was told there was a confrontation. By the time I arrived, they had already been taken into a car and detained. Despite my repeated requests for an explanation as to why he was detained, we received no answers," said Nadiradze, who was released later that night after signing a document.
The opposition party views the incident as a "special operation" and links it to the pre-election activities of its members.
"Instead of addressing the real problems faced by every Georgian citizen - corruption, poverty, unemployment, rising prices - Georgian Dream is targeting the opposition. And who would be their main target if not our coalition, Unity - United National Movement? Yesterday, we saw how so-called policemen, with completely cynical and unjustified methods, waited outside the home of our party's Gldani election headquarters head, Irakli Edzgveradze. How was he then kidnapped? Yes, it was kidnapping, an illegal deprivation of liberty. During his three-hour detention, Irakli Edzgveradze’s lawyer had no idea of his whereabouts.
No one was surprised, given the Prime Minister’s statement yesterday, which essentially announced violence and repression against the opposition. Their groups acted quickly, turning the Prime Minister's threats into reality within hours," said Sopo Japaridze, one of the leaders of the National Movement.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs claims that employees of the Central Criminal Police were conducting an investigative operation related to a drug crime, and that Irakli Edzgveradze, who had no connection to the investigation, obstructed their work.
Members of the United National Movement are being charged with petty hooliganism and disobeying police orders. Their trial is expected to take place today.
