Murdered Teenager’s Father Releases Letter

Zaza Saralidze, father of teenager Davit Saralidze who was brutally killed last December, has released an open letter on Facebook after last night's large-scale protest-rally and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili’s promise that the case will be re-investigated.

In his letter, Saralidze addresses all of Georgian society, saying “the witnesses are pressured and evidence destroyed.”

“What is the point of re-investigating the case if there are no witnesses or evidence? This is a new method of the government to lie to me…It turns out that the government is covering the system,” the letter reads.

Saralidze noted that the only person from the government who really supports him is President Giorgi Margvelashvili and his family.

“Thanks to the President, his family and his administration. No representatives of the ruling party had a desire to stand by my side. How can I trust them when they do not even want to listen to me?" the letter reads.

Yesterday, Tbilisi City Court announced the verdict in the case of the stabbing of two teenage boys in which two minors detained for the murder 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 Davit Saralidze. But the court could not say who in fact killed Saralidze.

After the trial, the father of Davit Saralidze went to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office, asking for a “fair investigation.”

Chief Prosecutor Irakli Shotadze resigned shortly before the protest rally began.

From the Prosecutor’s Office, the demonstrators marched to the old building of parliament. Thousands of citizens, public figures and politicians joined the rally. It was the largest demonstration Tbilisi has seen for years.

The Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, arrived on the scene at the old building of Parliament on Rustaveli Ave. and tried to address the demonstrators. However, the people did not let him speak and started shouting “Go away!” and “Quit!” and throwing objects at him. A new viral video seems to show the opposition to Kvirikashvili may have been staged.

After a group of people started to throw things at the PM, he left the rally and addressed society from the governmental administration building.

Kvirikashvili stated the investigation will be re-launched from Friday, and added that the Minister of Internal Affairs, Giorgi Gakharia, will lead the process and periodically inform society about the results.

The PM added that Parliament had decided to set up an investigative group where the opposition will be represented as well as the majority, united in supervizing the process.

The PM also commented on calls for his resignation, saying that when he is sure this step will benefit the country, he will definitely do it.

“But today the moment has not come…The post means nothing to me, for me it is important to keep stability in the country,” the Prime Minister said.

By Thea Morrison

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