UNM’s Ana Tsitlidze urges Prosecutors to question Bidzina Ivanishvili as ‘mastermind’ behind high-profile deaths

“If the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and those sitting in its offices intend to question anyone regarding high-profile deaths, they must question their primary mastermind, Bidzina Ivanishvili,” United National Movement (UNM) member Ana Tsitlidze declared.

According to Tsitlidze, Georgian Dream came to power in 2012 on the back of the drowning of nine-month-old Barbare Raphaliants in a qvevri, and has continued a sequence of deaths ever since.

“Bidzina Ivanishvili killed Barbare Raphaliants. Zviad Lagvilava, a participant in the Kodori special operation, was killed on Russian orders by Bidzina Ivanishvili. Shalva Tatukhashvili, another Kodori operation participant, was killed on Russian orders by Bidzina Ivanishvili. Aleksandre Danelia, Sergo Ubilava, and Ivane Ivanidze, participants in the Kodori special operation, were killed on Russian orders by Bidzina Ivanishvili. Erosi Kitsmarishvili was killed on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Lekso Lashkarava was killed on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Temirlan Machalikashvili was killed on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Tamar Bachaliashvili was killed on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Niko Kvaratskhelia was killed on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Lazare Jorbenadze was killed on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Former head of Gldani Prison Davit Gogiberidze was killed on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Simon Tsakadze, head of the State Security Service anti-corruption division, was killed on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Nugzar Putkaradze was killed on the orders of Bidzina Ivanishvili,” Ana Tsitlidze alleged.

The opposition representative went on to label the ruling party a “party of killers.”

“Bidzina Ivanishvili is a killer, and Georgian Dream is a party of killers who came to power in 2012 through the drowning of nine-month-old Barbare Raphaliants in a qvevri, and continue a chain of killings in Georgia to this day.

We urge the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia and those occupying that building: if you must question anyone regarding high-profile deaths, you must question their chief mastermind, Bidzina Ivanishvili. Interrogate Bidzina Ivanishvili. Ask him how he orchestrated the murder of nine-month-old Barbare Raphaliants. Question him and ask how, on Russian instructions, he killed the participants of the Kodori special operation. Question him on the case of Erosi Kitsmarishvili. Ask him how he issued orders for the deaths of Temirlan Machalikashvili and Tamar Bachaliashvili. Interrogate him regarding the death of Nugzar Putkaradze, because the sole person orchestrating these deaths is Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Demand answers on what orders he gives to State Security Service officers, leading dozens of security personnel to suicide, driving them to take their lives, or having them killed. The single individual accountable for these deaths is Bidzina Ivanishvili. The Prosecutor’s Office must realise that unless Ivanishvili is questioned, every single official will face criminal liability alongside Bidzina Ivanishvili once this regime changes. The regime of killers in this country must be brought to an end,” Tsitlidze stated.