Machalikashvili’s Protest Rally Underway in Tbilisi and Pankisi

A protest rally named “Do Not Kill Me” organized by Malkhaz Machalikashvili, whose son was killed in anti-terrorist operation in December, is underway at the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS) of Georgia in Tbilisi and also in Panskisi village Duisi.  Zaza Saralidze, father of the murdered teen Davit, also joined the protesters.

Locals from Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge have arrived in Tbilisi and joined the rally, asking for a fair investigation into Machalikashvili case.

 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: Reginfo

Video: netgazeti