The South Caucasus Network of Human Rights Defenders
Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper “Chance” Requests Ianukovich Political Shelter for His Family
[23.03.2010]
Nino Mikiashvili, presa.ge
Last Saturday, the founder and editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Chance” Bondo Kurdadze left Georgia together with his wife and three children. He spoke about the reasons of leaving the country on the phone with presa.ge. He is in Kiev now. On March 19, he requested political shelter to the president of the Ukraine officially and through media-sources. He requested political shelter for his family members from the European states too.
-Why do you seek political shelter?
Bondo Kurdadze: Because I was oppressed – they threatened me with the death of my family members. I request assistance from the Ukraine and western European countries. I am not going to surrender. As soon as I am granted political shelter for my family, I will return to Georgia and continue fight for democracy against Saakashvili’s government. I am not Misha Saakashvili to flee from Georgia. I have visited Sokhumi when it was in siege.
-What did you write in you petition to the president of Ukraine?
-I wrote about the situation in our country – there is no free TV-station in Georgia; it has turned into a police state by listening to and persecuting people; there is no justice in Georgia.
-Did you mention those concrete oppressions you have experienced?
-Yes, I did. You know that we have exclusive right on broadcasting “People Judges Government”. I also received exclusive right to decode the audio-recording about the death of the Prime-Minister Zurab Zhvania. I took my family away from threats and they are in foreign country because of security.
-Why did you select Ukraine?
-I held Schengen visa for my family members but anyway I did not go to the Western Europe. I arrived here for one reason – the previous president did not kill anybody and held fair elections before leaving the government; here disaster and bloodshed will never happen. The Ukrainian people will never do it. Our president was friend of Iushenko but he could not take this character from him. Ukrainian people love their former president very much; here population expressed their will and the Ukraine demonstrated that they are democratic state.
When I got off the plane, I felt myself as Monte Cristo after running from prison. I breathed deeply and am not looking back. Here I am not moving with my hands in the pocket in order to prevent strangers to plant some illegal things on me. During speaking I am not cutting the line. Everybody smiles here and people met me very warmly.
Almost everybody knows what is going on in Georgia. They are very insulted for that because 2 000 Georgian policemen were sent to monitor the elections in the Ukraine. Local people say – Saakashvili is not Georgia; and we love Georgian people. However they think Saakashvili is not normal. Furthermore, after the simulated chronicle was aired on TV-Imedi. Local newspapers wrote and people got shocked.
-When will you return to Georgia?
-As soon as I get shelter for my family, I will return to Georgia.
-That means, it can take a while and you will not be able to return soon.
-This process will not take much time. I will return soon. I repeat once more, I will not run anywhere. Simply, I will be calm when my family is safe; that’s why I took this step.
-Did anybody know about it in Georgia?
-People did not know exactly whether I will go or not. They were informed only about my situation. During the demonstrations in April of 2009 newspaper Chance visited the program “Cell” at the Maestro TV. After the oppression and threats, in September of 2009 I arrived in Batunmi and asked Keti Dolidze (film-director) to take my family abroad. I informed Rezo Esadze (film-director) and Davit Maghradze (writer) about the situation; I also informed Temur Shashiashvili, Giorgi Tsagareishvili and Zaza Khatiashvili (opposition leaders). I had superficial conversation about the oppression on me and my family with Eka Beselia. I also spoke with Goga Khaindrava and before leaving Georgia I met Zurab Noghaideli too.
I could go to Russia but I did not do it since I knew Georgian authority will declare me a traitor. Our governmental officials used to praise the Ukraine but now they cannot go there unlike ordinary Georgian people. That’s why I made similar decision and went to Ukraine and not to other state.
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