The Georgian Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal case against Giorgi Gakharia for organizing the intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm during a protest rally near the parliament building. UNN reports this with reference to Ekho Kavkaza and the BBC.
Details
Former Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia, who left the country a few months ago and moved to Germany, is accused by the prosecutor's office of organizing the intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm to more than two people during a protest rally near the parliament building. Among the accusations against the former official is also "abuse of official powers by a person holding a state political position."
The cases concern the events of 2019 and Gakharia's tenure as Minister of Internal Affairs. At that time, the so-called "Gavrilov's Night" took place, the dispersal of a rally that erupted in Tbilisi after the visit of Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov and the establishment of a police post near the unrecognized border with the breakaway South Ossetia from Georgia.
Giorgi Gakharia, ignoring instructions and legislation, ordered employees of the Special Tasks Department to use special means simultaneously and without warning. At the same time, peaceful participants of the action were not given the opportunity to leave the territory, as a result of which intentional harm was caused to the health of citizens.
As a result of the use of special means, dozens of citizens received injuries of varying severity. Two of them lost their eyes, five suffered grievous bodily harm, the prosecutor's office notes.
The investigation also revealed another episode. It was established that on August 24, 2019, Giorgi Gakharia, who at that time held the position of Minister of Internal Affairs, as well as Secretary and permanent member of the National Security Council, "unilaterally decided to erect an additional police post along the occupation line near the village of Chorchana," the prosecutor says. The prosecution claims that this decision was made without the approval of the Prime Minister, without coordination with the State Security Service, and without informing the EU Monitoring Mission.
Recall
The Georgian authorities have opened new criminal cases against former President Mikheil Saakashvili and other opposition politicians. They are accused of sabotage, aiding hostile activities, and calling for the overthrow of the government.