Tbilisi, March 18, 1995

After the tragic event of coup d'etat of December 1991 / January 1992, which has not yet been evaluated by the present government of Georgia, political crisis, anarchy and state terror are increasing in our country. The process of confrontation with politically opposed persons, their persecution and squaring account with them are going on. One of the examples of the above-said is the recently terminated Court trial over 19 supporters of the government-in-exile, at which death penalty sentence was passed in two of the defendants, and imprisonment for different terms of time the others.

The international human rights organizations (Helsinki Watch, Amnesty International, International Society for Human Rights, etc.) as well as other independent experts indicate, that the above mentioned process has been going on with gross violations of judicial norms and universally recognized human rights. In particular, the following violations have been observed:

1. facts of rough physical and psychological pressure, torture of detainees;

2. repeated violations of presumption of innocence by high authorities, - Head of State and General Prosecutor among them - through mass media, pressure on the court and infringement of the rights of the defendants.

We are of the same opinion with the international observers that the court trial under these circumstances excludes all possibility of passing fair and just sentence on the prisoners.

We are extremely worried by the fates of all the prisoners but of special concern to us are those two, sentenced to death: Mr. I. Dokvadze and Mr. P. Gelbakhiani. Under the circumstances of chaos and injustice, reigning in Georgia, death execution can be carried out any moment. And if this does happen, it will be a serious crime, committed against democracy and humanity.

We, the representatives of political parties and organizations with different political views call on you to use your high authority and exert influence on the Georgian government to save the lives of Mr. I. Dokvadze and Mr. P. Gelbakhiani. At the same time we join the demands of international human rights organizations to start a prompt independent investigation with the participation of foreign experts.

Members of Georgian Parliament:

Iraklij MELASHVILI, Tengiz DIHAMINDZHIA, Tamar CHHEIDZE, Besarion PACHUASHVILI, Andro LOLADZE, Malhaz DVALISHVILI, Levan MESHI, Vasil BUZALADZE, Gajoz ROGAVA, Tedo PAATASHVILI, Merab URIDIA, David BERDZENISHVILI, Akakij BOBOHIDZE, David KADAGIDZE, Zurab SHENGELAJA, Nodar NOTADZE, Akakij ASATIANI, Gajoz KORDZADZE, David KOVZELIDZE, Guram PACACIA, Aslan PAGAVA, Guram SHELIA, Paata CHHEIDZE, Bezhan HURCIDZE, Kahi KOHADZE, Raul KUPRAVA, Elgudzha GVAZAVA, Ivlian HAINDRAVA, Temur ZHORZHOLIANI, Alik GUGUNAVA, Guram CULAJA, Teimur ZHORZHOLIANI, Mamuli ZHGENTI, Gocha DZHODZHUA;

Ex-members of former Supreme Council of Georgia:

Muhram MACHAVARIANI, Nugzar MOLODINASHVILI, Irakli CHHEIDZE, Dzhamal GOLETIANI, Bedzina GEORGOBIANI, Bedzina DANGADZE, Iosif BARATASHVILI, Gela CHORGOLASHVILI, Tengiz KUBLASHVILI, Paata BARATASHVILI, Gia PIRCHALAISHVILI, Guram MAKARACIA, Guram ISAKADZE, Dzhemal IONATAMASHVILI, Tengiz CHACHAVA, Bejmurza APRASIDZE, Giorgi OCHIAURI, Dzhemal SHONIA, Kukuri CHAPCHADZE, Bezhan DZHAVAHIA, Miriam CIKLAURI, Zviad DZIDZIGURI, Robert PETREASHVILI, Lia ANDGULADZE, Nikolos KILASONIA.