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Document #1413017
ACCORD – Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation (Author)
Nach einer Recherche in unserer Länderdokumentation und im Internet können wir Ihnen zu oben genannter Fragestellung Materialien zur Verfügung stellen, die unter anderem folgende Informationen enthalten:
Im Menschenrechtsbericht des US State Department (USDOS) vom Februar 2005 wird berichtet, dass laut Menschenrechtsorganisationen noch immer einige Anhänger von Swiad Gamsachurdia (engl. Schreibweise: Zviad Gamsakhurdia) in Haft sind, die als politische Gefangene bezeichnet werden könnten. Nachdem aber der ehemalige Finanzminister der Regierung Gamsachurdia zum stellvertretenden Staatsminister ernannt und damit beauftragt wurde, alle Anklagen gegen Swiadisten zu überprüfen, seien über zwanzig Swiadisten freigelassen worden:
“International and local human rights organizations varied on estimates of how many political prisoners were in the country, reporting from 0 to 20. The Parliamentary Human Rights Committee and Ombudsman claimed that there were no official political prisoners in the country; however, many individuals, including members of the former paramilitary group "Mkhedrioni," Zviadists (followers of the deceased former president Gamsakhurdia), and several high-ranking officials from the previous government, considered themselves political prisoners. According to human rights observers, some Zviadist prisoners never took up arms and should be considered political prisoners. In 2003, the Interim President appointed former Gamsakhurdia Minister of Finance Guram Absandze as Deputy State Minister charged with reviewing all cases against Zviadists, with the aim of releasing them. Over 20 of the group were released this year.” (USDOS, 28. Februar 2005, Sek. 1e)
Civil Georgia berichtet im Februar 2004 von einem Programm zur nationalen Einigung, das von Präsident Saakaschwili initiiert wurde, in dessen Rahmen etwa dreißig Anhänger von Gamsachurdia begnadigt worden seien, die in den frühen neunziger Jahren verhaftet worden waren:
“President Saakashvili set up a special commission which is to study “events regarding the unlawful change of power in Georgia” in 1991-1992.
[…] President Saakashvili’s decision is regarded to be a part of the national accord policy, launched from the first day of his presidency, when Saakashvili signed a declaration on National Accord and Reconciliation. Under the declaration, about 30 supporters of Zviad Gamsakhurdia were pardoned. All of them were arrested during and after the civil unrest in early 90s.” (Civil Georgia, 26. Februar 2004)
Mit einem Verweis auf das Programm zur nationalen Einigung schreibt das Schleswig-Holsteinische Verwaltungsgericht in einem Urteil vom April 2004, dass für Anhänger von Gamsachurdia in Georgien keine Gefahr mehr bestünde:
„Selbst für die tatsächlichen Anhänger Gamsachurdias besteht heute nach der Ablösung der Schewardnadse-Regierung und den mittlerweile durchgeführten Neuwahlen generell keine Gefahr mehr. Die IGFM hat dem Gericht in ihrem Schreiben vom 13.02.2004 ausdrücklich bestätigt, dass eine Verfolgung der Anhänger Gamsachurdias seit dem Machtwechsel nicht mehr stattfindet.“ (VG Schleswig Holstein, 22. April 2004, S.12)
Die georgische Menschenrechtsorganisation Human Rights Information and Documentation Center (HRIDC) berichtet allerdings, dass im Juli 2004 drei Aktivisten der Organisation „Runder Tisch“, die von der Witwe Gamsachurdias geführt wird, nach einer Protestkundgebung vor dem Wirtschaftsministerium festgenommen und wegen Störung der öffentlichen Ordnung und Beleidigung des Ministers angeklagt wurden. Im November 2004 wurden die drei Aktivisten - darunter auch ein Minderjähriger - zu Gefängnisstrafen zwischen einem und zwei Jahren verurteilt:
“The issue of political prisoners is becoming a concern. Many organizations and political parties consider that a new category of political prisoners emerges in Georgia. We do not doubt that some people are detained for political motives. Among those cases that give rise to suspicion are supporters of ex-president Gamsakhurdia, who are being detained under the accusation of violating public order and insulting the Minister of Economy;
[…] Three activists of the Political Organization “Round Table,” (one minor being among them) were imprisoned for violation of public order and insulting the Minister of Economy Kakha Bendukidze. “According to a statement by the “Round Table”, Irakli Shonia, Tamaz Tsiklauri and Lasha Katsanashvili are political prisoners and the court pronounced the sentence on 1st of November as a result of pressure from the government. Amiran Burduli, lawyer of the activists, declared that the verdict is unjust and that he is going to appeal to a higher instance. In July, 2004 Irakli Shonia, Tamaz Tsiklauri and minor Lasha Katsanashvili, activists of the political organization “Round Table,” were imprisoned during an action in front of the Ministry of Economy for violation of public order and insulting the Minister of Economy Kakha Bendukidze. Tbilisi Mtatsminda- Krtsanisi District Court sentenced Irakli Shonia to one year of imprisonment, and Tamaz Tsiklauri to one year and 6 months. As for the minor Lasha Katsanashvili the judge Zaur Mebonia suspended a sentence of two years. “I do no have a hope that we can achieve anything through appealing the decision in a country like Georgia in which judges are under the pressure of the government” - stated Amiran Burduli, lawyer of the activists of “Round Table”. According to him the verdict is unjust and he will, by all means, appeal to a higher instance. Unsatisfied with the decision of the judge the members of “Round Table” held a protest action in front of Tbilisi Mtatsminda-Krtsanisi District Court where they protested the imprisonment of Irakli Shonia and Tamaz Tsiklauri. According to the organizers of the action protests will be held on a permanent basis in front of the Prosecutor’s Office. Manana Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia, leader of “Round Table” declared that the current government is using the same methods as during Soviet times. “I can remember the repressions of the 1970s. Back then innocent people were punished for loving their homeland” - stated the wife of the first president. Two policemen were interrogated on the trial of supporters of the Ex-president, Zviad Gamsaxurdias’s government which was held in Tbilisi Krtsanisi-Mtatsminda Court; the policemen state that they did not witness the incident that took place on July 20, 2004 during the action in front of the Ministry of Economy.” (HRIDC, 2004, S.16/17)
Unter Berufung auf die „All-Georgian Association for the Protection of Human Rights“ berichtet auch die Nachrichtenagentur Prima News Agency im Juli 2004 von der Festnahme der Aktivisten, allerdings werden hier nur zwei namentlich erwähnt. Weiters wird berichtet, dass die Aktivisten in der Haft geschlagen worden seien:
„The All-Georgian Association for the Protection of Human Rights is demanding the release of supporters of former president Zviad Gamsahurdia. Tamaz Tsiklauri and Lashi Katsanshivili were arrested on July 20th for participating in a protest action at the Ministry of Economic Development building. Participants of the action were demanding the resignation of Kahi Bendukidze, the Minister of Economic Development and a suspension of the privatization process.
Georgi Kervalishvili, president of the human rights association, informed journalists that the arrestees are being held in isolation before trial, and have been beaten severely. The association has joined forces with the nongovernmental organization Former Political Prisoners For Human Rights. Kervalishvili considers the detainees to be prisoners of conscience. In turn, Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania has demanded that the Ministry of State Security name those who financed the protest action. According to him, participants in the action received funding from those who cannot participate in privatization. "This gang, has, over the years, appropriated millions in state property,” said the Prime Minister.“ (Prima News Agency, 23. Juli 2004)
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty berichtet im November 2004 über die Verurteilung der drei Aktivisten und spricht von Gefängnisstrafen von zwei Jahren:
“A Tbilisi district court passed sentence on 29 October on three supporters of deceased President Zviad Gamsakhurdia on charges of insulting Economy Minister Kakha Bendukidze during a standoff in front of the ministry building in July, Caucasus Press reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 21, 22 and 26 July 2004). The three defendants, one of whom is only 16, were jailed for two years.” (RFE/RL, 1. November 2004)
HRIDC berichtet außerdem im Februar 2005 über Teimuraz Kvantaliani, den ehemaligen Direktors der Fernseh- und Radio-Abteilung, der nach eigenen Angaben nur aufgrund seines Kontaktes mit Gamsachurdia des Terrorismus und des Diebstahls von Staatseigentums beschuldigt wurde, und gegen den auch nach dem Regimewechsel die Anklage nicht aufgehoben wurde:
“Restrictions against and pursuit of “Zviadists,” as well as confrontations in society, continued for several years and, according to the promises of the new government (after the “Rose Revolution”), they should have been stopped after the creation of the “Parliamentary Commission for National Consent.” According to a letter published in Rezonansi by Teimuraz Kvantaliani, former director of the TV and Radio Broadcasting Department (during the period of the first president of Georgia), the situation remains unchanged and the General Prosecution still continues to investigate criminal cases launched against “Zviadists”. Kvantaliani mentioned in his letter that the criminal case against him accuses him of treason and terrorism as well as stealing state property. As he was informed on October 17, 2004 by a letter from Senior Justice Advisor Revaz Zarandia, the Senior Prosecutor of the Investigating Department, his case still has not been thrown out.
Kvantaliani’s letter states that several criminal cases have been launched against supporters of the first president, former MPs and members of the government and include charges like high treason and terrorism. Teimuraz Kvantaliani’s charges were included. As he states, he was among the charged only because he was with the first president in Grozno. After the death of the president, Teimuraz Kvantaliani moved to Lithuania where he got political asylum and remained for several years. On the advice of Vasil Maglaferidze, Chairman of the Commission of the National Consent, Kvantaliani sent an official statement to the Georgian representation in Lithuania addressed to Maglaferidze asking for the cancellation (under Article 28) of criminal cases instituted against him illegally. Later, acting on the promise his charges would be cancelled, he refused political asylum and returned in Georgia. Once across the border, he learned that his request to cancel the criminal charges had not been accepted and that he was wanted. It should be mentioned, however, that the prosecution office has not taken any measures to detain him.
Teimuraz Kvantaliani hoped that the new government would keep its promise and cancel the criminal charges against him, but he was disappointed, especially by the prosecution’s request that he confess to the accusations - as if the charges were actually initiated properly and would be dropped if the situation changed. And the conditions under which the situation could change are extremely vague and muddy, especially when concerning charges like high treason and terrorism.” (HRIDC, 10. Februar 2005)
Weitere Hinweise auf den Fall Kvantaliani konnten in den ACCORD derzeit zur Verfügung stehenden Quellen nicht gefunden werden.
Diese Informationen beruhen auf einer zeitlich begrenzten Recherche in öffentlich zugänglichen Dokumenten, die ACCORD derzeit zur Verfügung stehen. Die Antwort stellt keine abschließende Meinung zur Glaubwürdigkeit eines bestimmten Asylansuchens dar.
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