Malkhaz Machalikashvili: I Am Being Watched

Malkhaz Machalikashvili, father of a deceased 19 year old man from Pankisi Gorge, claims he is being watched by the State Security Service (SSS) since his son was killed in anti-terrorist operation in late December.

The man says the spying on him intensified after he decided to participate in the protests under ‘Do Not Kill Me’ campaign, launched by Zaza Saralidze, whose teenager son became a victim of a street brawl on December 1.

“I am being watched in Tbilisi, Telavi and Akhmeta, even in Pankisi Gorge. These are SSS agents and they are also gathering information about me, which is illegal,” the man told Rustavi 2.

Machalikashvili’s lawyer, Tamta Mikeladze, who is the representative of the NGO EMC, says the violation of two very important rights is clear - his right to privacy and, on the other hand, alleged interest of restricting participation in gatherings.

“We hope that the inspector will study this issue timely and fairly,” she added.

Temirlan Machalikashvili, 19, received a head-wound during a special operation in the Pankisi Gorge on 26 December 2017. Georgian law-enforcers claim that Machalikashvili was shot when he tried to detonate a grenade. However, the family and relatives say that he was sleeping when law-enforcers shot him without warning.

The father of the deceased young man has several demands. He wants law enforcers to confess that his son was killed by mistake. He also demands his family be granted the status of victim, adding his son was the victim of someone’s mistake.

The man calls on the government to hold everyone involved in the operation responsible, adding the authorities are trying to accuse his son of having links with terrorists.

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: 1TV