The FINANCIAL — According to Civil Georgia, the sitting parliament will fail to listen to Public Defender Sozar Subari’s reports about last year’s human rights record in Georgia, Nino Burjanadze, the Parliamentary Chairperson, said on March 17.
She said that the lawmakers would not have enough time to even read the comprehensive report. The parliament was due to listen to Subari’s two reports – one covering the first half of 2007 (744 pages) and another one – the second half of 2007. The 633-page report about human rights record in the second half of 2007 is critical about the November events calling for raising political responsibility of Interior Minister, Vano Merabishvili.
Along with excessive use of force by the police during breaking up of demonstrations last November, the report notes that law enforcement agencies used rubber bullets, which was illegal and those who authorized it, including Interior Minister, Vano Merabishvili, should be held responsible. The Public Defender cites the Law on Police, which lists special equipment available to riot police. The list includes tear gas, water cannons and rubber batons, but not rubber bullets.
“The law enforcement agencies have exceeded their authority,” the report reads. “Hence the issue of responsibility of not only private riot policemen should be raised, but those high-ranking Interior Ministry officials, who have authorized purchase and then use of rubber bullets, should also be held responsible. It can be assumed that neither purchase, nor use of rubber bullets would have occurred without involvement of Interior Minister, Vano Merabishvili. Hence, it is obvious that the issue of the Minister’s criminal liability should be raised.”
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