Ombudsman: Mayor's Office Must Not Stop Machalikashvili, Saralidze Protests

Public Defender of Georgia, Nino Lomjaria, calls on City Hall and the Interior Ministry not to hinder the protests of Zaza Saralidze, father of the murdered teen Davit, and Malkhaz Machalikashvili, whose son was killed in anti-terrorist operation in December, who are holding rallies in front of the old parliament building on Rustaveli.

Lomjaria’s statement reads that Saralidze addressed the Mayor’s Office, asking permission to let him extend the rallies until December 31. However, he was told to change the location of the protests from December 7, as the area of the old building of the parliament is the place where the main New Year tree is placed in the capital.

The Ombudsman believes that the reason provided by City Hall is not serious enough to ask the protesters to choose another place.

“The Public Defender calls on City Hall and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia not to provide artificial and unlawful arguments against the realization of the abovementioned constitutional right and if it is the will of the protesters, let them stay on the territory mentioned above,” the statement of the Ombudsman reads.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze says the protesters should choose another location where no Christmas and New Year festivities will be underway.

"City Hall has started preparing for the New Year festivities. The area in front of old parliament is the central place where the main Christmas tree is placed. This is a tradition that has been going on for many years, so we informed the protesters that they should find another place for the rallies,” the Mayor said.

Machalikashvili and Saralidze have been holding protest rallies since spring 2018. They are asking for justice and a fair investigation of the cases of their children.

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: RFE/RL

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