PRESUMABLY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PRESSURE / THREATS / OBSTRUCTION
2021-08-30
On July 30, Zaza Mekhrishvili, a civil activist, reported that he had been physically assaulted by the Khashuri City Council Chairman, Mikheil Janashvili. Mekhrishvili claims that in addition to Janashvili, he was also physically abused by high-ranking officials of Khashuri City Hall. Particularly, Sergo Laliashvili, who heads the Economy Service of the City Hall, and Kote Pruidze, who is the head of the Culture Service. According to Mekhrishvili, the controversy was caused by his activity on social network, as he exposed the corrupt activities of the Khashuri municipality officials. He said that he did not appeal to the law enforcerment agencies because the chairman of the City Council threatened to kill him. Mekhrishvili says he was going to take part in local self-government elections from the party "Girchi” and that is why he was provoked and his phone was stolen through a friend, which contained a number of videos exposing the violent acts of local authorities.
The chairman of Khashuri City Council did not want to talk to ISFED observer and illegally forbade to enter the City Council building.