Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor Resigns
Irakli Shotadze, Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor, has resigned amid the protest over the high-profile murder case involving teenagers.
The protest started after Tbilisi City Court announced the verdict over the murder of two teenager boys in which two minors detained for the murder case were found guilty.
The judge found one of the detainees guilty for premeditated murder of one of the victims- Levan Dadunashvili, while another detainee was found guilty for attempted murder of another victim- David Saralidze. But the court failed to say who killed Saralidze, who was stabbed to death.
Two 16-year old schoolboys, Levan Dadunashvili and Davit Saralidze from Tbilisi Public School 51, were brutally killed during a street brawl in the city center on December 3, 2017. Davituliani died on the scene while Saralidze was taken to the hospital and died the next day.
After the court announced its verdict, Saralidze’s father, Zaza, went to the Prosecutor’s Office and demanded the answer as to who had killed his son, stating openly that he does not trust the investigation carried out and noted that there were too many questions left regarding the case. He claims there was "someone else" involved in the murder who is free but who must be held accountable.
Saralidze’s supporters gathered at the Prosecutor’s Office asking for “justice” and “a fair investigation.”
Shotadze said that the evidence submitted to the court by the Prosecutor’s Office would ensure a fair verdict on the case and all offenders would be punished, but he said that the case was two partslegal one part humane and that he had decided to leave his post due to the latter.
“I have always stood beside you. As the Chief Prosecutor of the country and as a father, there is nothing more valuable for me than your child’s life,” now ex-Chief Prosecutor told the parents of the teens killed on Khorava Street in Tbilisi in early December.
He explained that for him the trust of each citizen towards 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 a fair verdict on the case. The first instance court did not fully accept the evidence and there was not a fair result in 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.
Mamuka Vasadze, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Georgia, will serve as acting Chief Prosecutor in Irakli Shotadze's stead. He will hold this position until Parliament elects a new Chief Prosecutor.
By Thea Morrison
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