Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor Resigns

Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor, Irakli Shotadze resigned May 31 amid protests over a high-profile murder case involving teenagers.

The protest started after Tbilisi City Court announced its verdict on the murder of two teenage 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 the attempted murder of the second victim- David Saralidze. But the court failed to say who killed Saralidze.

Two 16-year old schoolboys, Levan Dadunashvili and Davit Saralidze from Tbilisi Public School 51, were brutally stabbed to death 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 an 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 parts legal-one part humane, and that he had decided to leave his post due to the latter issue.

“I have always stood beside you. As the Chief Prosecutor of the country and as a father, there is nothing more valuable me than your child’s life,” the now ex-Chief Prosecutor told the parents of the victims.

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 concerns the murder of minors. The Prosecutor's Office 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 am confident 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.

Ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili spoke out in support of Shotadze’s resignation, claiming it part of the new “standard” set by his government. “I have always believed that Irakli and his office were doing everything for all offenders to be held accountable before the law,” he said. “Irakli’s resignation is a completely new standard which was the main goal of the 2012 public revolution. I want to once again offer my condolences to the families of the victims and express my conviction that justice will be executed," Ivanishvili’s statement reads.

Large crowds gathered outside the old Parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi, on the evening of May 31 to demand an overhaul of the entire justice system.

For updates, go to georgiatoday.ge.

By Thea Morrison

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