GYLA releases another statement in response to the incident that occurred in Batumi between employees of GYLA and Valerian Telia, Head of Adjara’s Main Department of Internal Affairs, and the developments that followed. GYLA is particularly concerned over the reports about destruction of a reliable piece of evidence – video surveillance material from the time of the incident.
According to Sabir Nurievi who owns one of the facilities close-by, Batumi House, he was approached by men dressed in civilian clothes, who deleted video surveillance material from the time of the incident. We have learned that video material showing how these men entered the building is yet available but fearing the policemen, owners of Batumi House refuse to hand it to journalists. In light of importance of the evidence, GYLA’s employees tried to bring the issue to the attention of law enforcement authorities, to protect the records. However, the law enforcement authorities failed to take any actions in response for several hours. As of now, in response to the demand made by GYLA, MIA’s General Inspection sent police officers to the scene, for them to collect the video footage showing the policemen entering the building (as noted earlier, the evidence was destroyed during their visit to Batumi House). However, one of the patrol officers sent by the General Inspection to collect the video surveillance footage was identified as the person from the footage. He was possibly personally involved in destruction of the evidence. We have learned that this person has been identified as head of Batumi’s Second Internal Affairs Division, Gigla Mosidze. Therefore, we have no expectations whatsoever that the policemen, who allegedly destroyed the important evidence, will collect the material proving his guilt. We would like to also note that destruction of evidence is qualified as crime under the Criminal Code.
The foregoing developments and MIA’s one-sided approached as revealed by the official statement it has released in response to the incident raises reasonable doubt about objectivity of investigating authorities.
We believe that the incident is a test that will show MIA’s approach towards crimes allegedly committed by its own employees. Regrettably, no investigating actions have been taken so far but rather, the authorities are doing as much as possible for avoiding determination of truth and for deleting traces of crime allegedly committed by a high-level official of the police. The incident may signify systemic problems within the agency.
In light of importance of the foregoing circumstances, GYLA is demanding a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs.
