Prosecutor’s Office charges three ex-officials for illegal detention, kidnaping of opposition figure

Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has charged three ex-officials over a crime committed under the former government involving illegal detention and kidnapping of a former opposition leader, Koba Davitashvili. 

Today the Office announced details of its investigation into the incident, which allegedly took place in November 2007 when several people in authority abused their rights and acted immorally against people participating in political demonstrations against the then United National Movement (UNM) government.

Davitashvili, who chaired the People’s Party, was among the chief players in the anti-UNM protests.

The Prosecutor’s Office alleged in November 2007 during major rallies on Rustaveli Ave in capital Tbilisi, Georgia’s ex-Chief Prosecutor Zurab Adeishvili ordered deputy head of the Revenue Office of the Ministry of Finance Davit Karseladze to use a special unit of the Revenue Office to control the moves of opposition leaders. 

In particular, Karseladze’s unit chaired by Edisher Kobakhidze was tasked to prevent opposition leaders of appearing in crowded areas, to disable them and prevent them from addressing the public, and attack other protesters.

The Prosecutor’s Office said on the morning of November 7, 2007, Davitashvili went to the Eliava Open Market near central Tbilisi to buy a power generator to use during opposition rallies and other events.

There the special Revenue Office unit met up with Davitashvili, and they physically abused him and forcibly transported him to Gori hospital in central Georgia, where he was detained for about 48 hours.

For this action, charges have been against three former officials Adeishvili, Karseladze and Kobakhidze for illegal detention and kidnapping of an opposition political figure. 

If the charges against the three accused are confirmed, Adeishvili, Karseladze and Kobakhidze will face seven to 10 years behind bars.

Adeishvili has been charged for other unrelated offences however he is not in Georgia and is wanted by Georgia’s law enforcement officers.

 It’s better late than never,”  Davitashvili said in response to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office statement. 

Davitashvili said Adeishvili was just a "linking chain” in the case and he believed the order for him to be beaten and detained came directly from Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili. Davitashvili believed Adeishvili’s arrest and questioning would be essential for revealing Saakashvili’s involvement in the case.