Ombudsman : An investigation established that Davit Saralidze is murdered by at least two persons

The verdict of Tbilisi Court of Appeals reaffirmed that the investigation into the murder of juveniles on Khorava Street did not identify all persons allegedly responsible for the crime, Public Defender of Georgia Nino Lomjaria said in a statement released on Monday.

The Ombudsman once again calls on the MIA and the Prosecutor's Office to reveal and punish all persons who were involved in the murder of Davit Saralidze. Lomjaria urges the investigative bodies to launch an investigation into the case of civil crime.

“About a year ago, the Public Defender's Office studied the case materials and found that the murder of Davit Saralidze was not fully and effectively investigated. The investigation did not conduct or delayed a series of investigative actions that resulted in substantially negative impact on impose of criminal liability on all offenders. Analysis of the case materials confirmed that another person / persons was also involved in the murder of Davit Saralidze.

The Public Defender addressed the Parliament of Georgia to be guided by the results of the work of the Temporary Investigative Commission in the process of adoption of the Parliament’s resolution and take one of the recommendations into account: the person, involved in Davit Saralidze’s murder, to be charged with murder committed by gang. The Parliament of Georgia, unfortunately, did not share this recommendation. Furthermore, criminal proceedings have not been instituted against any other person involved in a gang murder of Davit Saralidze.

June 3, 2019 the judgment of Tbilisi Court of Appeals once again revealed that Davit Saralidze was murdered by a group of at least two persons, while an investigation has revealed just one person - G.J.,” the statement reads.

The Ombudsman calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the General Prosecutor's Office:

- to identify and institute criminal proceedings against all the individuals who were involved in a gang murder of Davit Saralidze;

- To launch an investigation into the facts of civil offense, in particular against the employees of investigative bodies, commented alleged crimes (deliberately or accidently) that resulted in destruction of evidence and delaying in investigation;

- To inform the Ombudsman's Office about the materials of the investigation that is underway at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.