Print this pageFor Immediate Release
October 5, 2000
Court in Republic of Georgia convicts victims of mob attack on Jehovah’s Witnesses
TBILISI, GEORGIA—On September 28, two victims of a mob attack were themselves convicted of “hooliganism,” while two of the attackers were not. The victims will appeal the decision.
The Gldani-Nadzaladevi Court in Tbilisi convicted Marian Abaradze and Zaza Koshadze, two victims of an October 1999 mob attack on a religious meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Gldani. Abaradze was sentenced to three years probation, and Koshadze to 6 months.
Despite the public prosecutor’s request, the judge refused to convict two women who had admitted participating in the attack. One of the women told the court that she had burned literature belonging to Jehovah’s Witnesses and would do it again. The claim against these women was sent back for further investigation. The prosecutor said that he will appeal the decision because there is sufficient evidence to convict the women.
On October 17, 1999, a mob led by defrocked Orthodox priest Basili Mkalavishvili attacked Jehovah’s Witnesses, beating men, women and children with clubs and iron crosses. Sixteen victims required hospital treatment. One woman lost part of her vision permanently. State investigators did not charge the leaders of the attack. Instead, two elderly women were charged, as well as two of the victims. To date, no other attackers have been charged. None of the attackers have been convicted.
The decision against Abaradze and Koshadze is scandalous, said defense counsel Mamuka Chabashvili. “The victims are condemned, and admitted wrongdoers go unpunished,” he said. “This injustice shows that the entire trial was a farce from the beginning. How can there be a fair hearing when a mob takes over a court and intimidates everyone, including the judge?”
During a recess of the trial on August 16, 2000, a mob of about 80 Orthodox extremists stormed the courtroom. Security guards watched but did not interfere. On August 17 outside the courthouse, the same mob attacked and threw rocks at a journalist and a human rights advocate who were present to observe the trial.
Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone: (718) 560-5600