E/CN.4/1995/34
page 55
between May and October 1992 on a variety of charges, had allegedly been
tortured subsequent to arrest and during interrogation. The Special
Rapporteur received information on the following individual situations:
287. Zurab Bardzimashvili, who before his detention suffered from epilepsy and
wore braces on his right arm and leg, reportedly stabbed himself in the chest
in a suicide attempt when officials surrounded his house in Tbilisi to arrest
him on 5 October 1992. On the third day following his arrest the police came
to the hospital where he had undergone an operation and allegedly kicked him
in the chest where his wound was located. During his subsequent detention, he
was allegedly subjected to torture by having needles placed in his leg and
being kicked in the stomach. He was said to have sustained scars on his neck
and on the calves of his legs. On 6 August 1994, during the trial, he began a
dry hunger strike. A doctor visiting him in mid-August reported that he was
unable to stand, his weight was low, and he demonstrated irregular breathing,
a weak and arhythmic pulse, and a tremor of the arms and legs. Although he
was moved to hospital in mid-August, he was said to have been returned to his
cell in late August despite remaining in serious medical condition. His dry
hunger strike was reportedly continuing.
288. Tamara Bardzimashvili, the daughter of Zurab Bardzimashvili, not herself
a defendant in the case, was arrested by officers of the Information
Intelligence Directorate on 7 October 1992. Officials allegedly demanded that
she appear on television to condemn her father and other alleged supporters of
former President Gamsakhurdia. After she refused, the officers allegedly beat
her, hitting her three times in the chest and stomach and causing her to
bleed. She was released the next morning and was warned that physical
retribution would result if she told anybody about her ill-treatment.
289. Viktor Domukhovskii and Petre Gelbakhiani were reportedly abducted in
Baky, Azerbaijan, on 6 April 1992, blindfolded and placed on an aircraft to
Tbilisi. In the course of their transport they were allegedly severely
beaten. Viktor Domukhovskii was said to have had his nose and teeth broken
and sustained multiple bruises, while Petre Gelbakhiani sustained bruises and
scars on his face. Viktor Domukhovskii was allegedly beaten severely again in
early August 1994 during the trial period because he refused to give to
police officers notes that he had compiled on the trial and as a result had
difficulty standing at a subsequent court appearance. He was allegedly beaten
again on 13 August by special militia forces (OMON). A cardiogram by an
independent doctor reportedly revealed on 6 September that he had suffered a
heart dystrophy.
290. Irakli Dokvadze was arrested on 4 September 1992 in Khvareli and at a
police lock-up was allegedly beaten with rubber clubs, beaten on the soles
of his feet, had his nose broken, and lost consciousness. He was later
reportedly forced to make a video to air on television, for which make-up was
used to conceal his broken nose. Over the course of two months he was
allegedly subjected to repeated beatings. His children were reportedly
brought into the detention centre, whereupon the inspector allegedly said,
"If you want them to live, sign [a statement]." Threats were also made to
throw a grenade into his house.
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