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Protesters gathered in central Tbilisi the evening of May
31 after a high-profile murder case resulted in an acquittal and suspicions of
official impunity. (Photo: Giorgi Lomsadze)
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From May 31
to June 11, 2018: A wave of demonstrations starts in the streets of Tbilisi to
protest a perceived miscarriage of justice following the killing of two
teenagers in a street brawl in December. The protests continue sporadically
until June 11, when the police dismantle camps erected by the protesters in
front of the parliament building in Tbilisi. Georgia's chief prosecutor Irakli
Shotadze resigns over the case, while the government establishes a special
parliamentary fact-finding commission chaired by an opposition politician.
We, the
comrades of Unit 1012: The VFFDP, do admire the father of the murdered teenager,
Zaza Saralidze, who led thousands of people to protest against this injustice done
to his son. As Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was quoted during World War II saying:
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“The fiercest serpent may be overcome by a
swarm of ants.” - Isoroku Yamamoto
Statement in opposition of the planned construction
of the Yamato class battleships, as quoted in Scraps
of paper: the disarmament treaties between the world wars (1989) by Harlow
A. Hyde. In this statement, Yamamoto implies that even the most powerful
battleships can be sunk by a huge swarm of carrier planes. This remark also
proved prophetic as both Yamato and Musashi would be sunk by
overwhelming air attacks.
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This Mass
Protest is similar to the 2013 Shahbag Protest where
the Government had no choice but to listen to the protestors who were like the
swarm of ants who pressured the fierce snake.
Georgians Demand
Government Resign Over Teenage Killings
Published on Jun 1, 2018
Thousands
protested after angry scenes at a court case about the killings of two
teenagers in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. The country's chief prosecutor has
resigned, as the crowds demanded the prime minister go too.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orUlOwyyQgo
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In relation to the
verdict of Tbilisi City Court, a peaceful protest rally named Don't Kill Me is planned
to be held at the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia in Ortachala District at
7 pm. Majority of the society slammed Prosecutor’s Office for the decision and
expressed its support toward the family of the killed school boy.
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DON’T KILL ME Protest:
Mass Protests In Georgia Over Murder Verdict
By Amos
Chapple
Thousands of Georgians gathered in
Tbilisi to protest what they said was political influence in the trial of teens
allegedly involved in the stabbing death of two teenage boys in a brawl in
December.
The protests began late on May 31 after a Tbilisi court failed to find anyone guilty for the killing of one of the teens and ordered a reduction in charges for a participant in the brawl whose father previously served in the Prosecutor-General's Office.
The protests began late on May 31 after a Tbilisi court failed to find anyone guilty for the killing of one of the teens and ordered a reduction in charges for a participant in the brawl whose father previously served in the Prosecutor-General's Office.
The country's chief prosecutor, Irakli Shotadze, resigned in the wake of the protests. Following Shotadze's resignation, several thousand protesters gathered in front of the city's old parliament building, where they demanded the resignation of the entire government.
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VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LRVsTzezgM |
Georgia's chief prosecutor resigns over teenagers' murder case after
mass protests
01 June, 2018
Georgia’s chief prosecutor Irakly
Shotadze resigned on Thursday after thousands of people gathered outside his
office in Tbilisi. The protest outside the Prosecutor’s Office was caused by
the verdict announced by the Tbilisi City Court on Khorava street murder case.
Shotadze was leading an investigation into the stabbing deaths of two teenage
boys last December.
Irakli Shotadze explained the reasons
behind his resignation during the special briefing:
“I have always been beside you. As for the Chief Prosecutor of the country and as for a father, there is nothing more valuable for me than your child’s life,” - ex-chief prosecutor Irakli Shotadze said addressing the parents of the teens, killed on Khorava Street in Tbilisi.
Shotadze considers that the evidence submitted to the court by the Prosecutor’s Office would ensure fair verdict on the case and all offenders will be punished, but he said that the case two sides : legal one and the humane one. Shotadze said he decided to leave his post due to the last factor.
“For me, as for the Chief
Prosecutor of Georgia, the trust of each citizen towards our state institutions
is of utmost importance. Fair justice is especially valuable for me when it
refers to the murder of minors. Today, the Prosecutor's Office has submitted
evidence to the court that in my opinion, would ensure fair verdict on the
case. The first instance court did not fully accept these evidences and there
have not been fair result on this very hard case. However, the process will
continue in the higher instance court and I think that all offenders will be
liable to the law,” Shotadze said.
“I’m leaving my position
and hope that justice will prevail,” Shotadze said in a statement posted on the chief
prosecutor’s website.
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| Thousands of people came
out onto the streets of Tbilisi last night on 31 May and held demonstrations at
the parliament building after a municipal court handed down a verdict over a
high-profile case involving the murder of two teenagers in the capital’s
downtown area. |
Davit Saralidze and Levan Dadunashvili, both aged 16, were killed in a brawl
between students from two different schools.
Davit’s father, Zaza Saralidze, has
strictly criticized the investigation into their deaths, for which two other
teenage boys are currently on trial.
On Thursday, one of them was found guilty of murdering Dadunashvili, while the second was convicted of attempting to murder Saralidze.
In a response, a huge protest started outside Tbilisi streets. A crowd of people were brandishing posters reading “Don’t kill!”. They marched from the chief prosecutor’s office to the Georgian parliament.
Zaza Saralidze has said others apart
from the two accused are responsible for his son’s death.
“Shotadze’s resignation is not enough,” he told reporters on Thursday. “Others (prosecutors) should resign and all of them should be brought to trial.”
“Shotadze’s resignation is not enough,” he told reporters on Thursday. “Others (prosecutors) should resign and all of them should be brought to trial.”
Hours after the start of the protest
demands became more radical with protesters demanding the whole government
resign.
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Protesters gathered in central Tbilisi the evening of May
31 after a high-profile murder case resulted in an acquittal and suspicions of
official impunity. (Photo: Giorgi Lomsadze)
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First Lady of Georgia Maka Chichua also joined the rally to express solidarity towards Zaza Saralidze.
“I am beside those people, who
are the victims of this huge tragedy, - President’s spouse Maka Chichua said at
the rally outside the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.”
“I could not sit and watch TV. I am beside those people who are the victims of this huge tragedy. I, as a mother and a citizen of this country, fix my position,” the First Lady said.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi
Kvirikashvili said late on Thursday that the case would be returned to the
interior ministry for further investigation and an opposition-led parliamentary
commission would be set up to monitor the process. Moreover, Interior Minister
Giorgi Gakharia would lead the investigation process.
“Internal Affairs Minister Giorgi Gvakharia will lead the process and I will be involved in each step,”- Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said at a special briefing.
"Our government is a government
elected by people. I have always stood beside people. I have never avoided a
direct communication with people and decided to arrive at the rally, first of
all, in order to go to the father of the killed young man and to the parents of
other deceased children,” he added.
Kvirikashvili said he was ready to resign, if necessary, but did not see the need to do so at the moment.
“As soon as I’m sure that my resignation
will be useful to the country, I will not think for a second,” the premier
said.
The protest rally in front of Parliament
building will be resumed at 16:00 today. At this stage, there are three tents
in front of the Parliament building. Organizers of the rally call on citizens
to join the demonstration and show solidarity to Davit Saralidze's family
killed at Khorava Street.
INTERNET
SOURCE: https://www.georgianjournal.ge/society/34538-georgias-chief-prosecutor-resigns-over-teenagers-murder-case-after-mass-protests.html
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Protesters
hold their phones aloft as Tbilisi protest leader Zaza Saralidze speaks to the
crowd.
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Georgia's Chief Prosecutor Resigns As
Thousands Protest
Published on Jun 1, 2018
Thousands protested after angry scenes
at a court case about the killings of two teenagers in the Georgian capital,
Tbilisi. The country's chief prosecutor has resigned, as the crowds demanded
the prime minister go too.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnZemoDNc_o
OTHER LINKS:
https://jam-news.net/court-decision-on-murder-of-schoolchilden-in-tbilisi-may-lead-to-mass-protests/
http://victimsfamiliesforthedeathpenalty.blogspot.com/2015/02/2013-shahbag-protest.html
http://victimsfamiliesforthedeathpenalty.blogspot.com/2015/09/happy-100th-birthday-gideon-hausner.html
Georgia: Chief prosecutor resigns amid protests over murdered teenagers' casePublished on May 31, 2018
The chief prosecutor of Georgia Irakly Shotadze resigned after protests over an investigation into the stabbing of 16-year-olds reached outside office in Tbilisi on Thursday night.
The protests were sparked by the court's decision not to consider the death of David Saralidze a murder, charging one of the suspects with an attempt to commit it. Nevertheless, the other detained was found guilty of killing Levan Dadunashvili.
In a statement posted on the prosecutor's website, Shotadze said "I'm leaving my position and hope that justice will prevail."
Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has already that the case will be returned to the interior ministry.
David Saralidze and Levan Dadunashvili were killed in a brawl between students from two different schools in December 2017.
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VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LRVsTzezgM
Georgia: Mass demo over teenagers'
murder in Tbilisi, counter protesters detained
Published on Jun 2, 2018
Thousands of people gathered in front of
Tbilisi’s parliament building on Friday, to protest in solidarity with the
families of two teenagers stabbed to death in early December. At the same time,
several counter demonstrators were reportedly detained as they tried to
organise a rival protest several blocks away.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qU23iJsYo4
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