On January 20, 2015, father of Zurab Vazagashvili – Yuri Vazagashvili, died following the explosion at his son’s grave. The case is launched on the deliberate murder.
Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association is deeply concerned and expresses its distress on the issue; GYLA calls upon the Government of Georgia to ensure fast, comprehensive and impartial investigation on the fact. GYLA further calls upon the Government to ensure effectiveness of investigation renewed in 2012, on the case of death of Zurab Vazagashvili, resulting from the special operation, conducted at Kortebi on May 2, 2006, as well as to ensure that the guilty are revealed and brought under the responsibility in a timely manner.
Yuri Vazagashvili was the founder of the organization “Save a Life” and for years, he was actively fighting to achieve impartial investigation on the killings by the law-enforcements (on the killings of Zura Vazagashvili, Buta Robakidze and a number of other cases). Yuri Vazagashvili was also actively engaged in various public and political activities. It was Yuri Vazagashvili, on behalf of whom GYLA submitted constitutional complaint, which was recognized by the Parliament of Georgia, based on which the substantial amendment was enacted to the legislation of Georgia, making it possible to defend a name, honor and dignity of the deceased individual.
GYLA is also defending the interests of Vazagashvili family at the European Court of Human Rights, based on the violation of the right to life on the case of Zura Vazagashvili (Vazagashvili and Shanava against Georgia, case #50375/07). Despite a number of attempts by Yuri Vazagashvili, the state did not conduct an objective and impartial investigation on the death of Zura Vazagashvili before 2012 (the Prosecution has terminated the case in April 2007). As for the 2012, the investigation, re-launched following the request of Yuri Vazagashvili, it is not yet completed and responsibility of concrete individuals has not been raised so fat.
GYLA considers that the procrastinated justice is the deprived justice. We call upon the Government of Georgia to ensure fast, comprehensive and impartial investigation of the facts that took place on May 2, 2006 and on January 20, 2015, as well as to ensure execution of justice on the uninvestigated cases of violation of the right to life by the law-enforcements.
