The Parliamentary Interim Fact-Finding Commission, tasked with examining the activities of former political officeholders and officials affiliated with ruling political parties from 2003 to the present, convened its latest session to review two cases.

Aleksandre Megutnishvili provided testimony to the commission regarding violations of property rights, physical abuse, and acts of torture. As he said, in 2009, businessman David Kodua, allegedly acting on behalf of himself and his brother - then head of the Special Operations Department, Erekle Kodua - coerced him and his family to transfer ownership of three hectares of agricultural land in Tsinandali under threats.

He further stated that in 2010, while serving as a representative of a wine factory, he and several others were summoned by David Lortkipanidze, head of the Constitutional Security Department (CSD) in Kakheti, who demanded they each pay USD 10,000, allegedly to be transferred to “Radio Abkhazia”.

Megutnishvili claimed that he was only able to deliver USD 2,000 that day, with the remainder to be paid later. As a consequence, he and several others were arrested under fabricated charges of group hooliganism and were transferred to the Telavi police station, where they were severely beaten. He added that following a coerced confession, he and his cousin were transferred to Gldani Prison, while the others were released.

Regarding his detention, Megutnishvili described the conditions at Gldani Prison as “hellish and worse than hell”, noting that he suffered spinal injuries and developed diabetes during his imprisonment. According to his testimony, CSD officers requested that his brother purchase eight luxury vehicles in exchange for his release - an offer the family refused. In 2011, however, under pressure from high-ranking CSD officials, his pre-trial detention was replaced with bail and he was compelled to purchase several high-end cars.

The commission also heard testimony from Rusudan Sharadze concerning the violation of the right to life of her father, academic and Georgian public figure Guram Sharadze: “I assert that the murder of Guram Sharadze was premeditated, orchestrated, executed, and that the case was falsified from the very first moment”.

She claimed that the murder was not committed by Giorgi Barateli, the individual sentenced under the previous government, but by two unknown assailants who shot Guram Sharadze three times on Melikishvili Avenue.

Sharadze presented the commission with evidence and her own account of how the case was allegedly falsified, identifying those she believes planned, ordered, and executed the murder. She argued that her father’s assassination was politically motivated, citing his nationalistic views and vocal opposition since 1996 to George Soros, the Soros Foundation, the Liberty Institute, Radio Liberty, the Young Lawyers’ Association, and the Caucasus House. She also mentioned his advocacy for declaring Orthodox Christianity the state religion and for restoring ethnic and paternal identity markers in official documents. According to Rusudan Sharadze, a “key witness” indicated that the murder had been carried out by Data Akhalaia on orders from “Number One”, former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that the so-called Number One, Number Two, Number Three, and the rest of the collective “Five” never return to power. Under the leadership of Bidzina Ivanishvili, and with the support of you and like-minded Georgians, this heavy burden carried by Georgian Dream must be met with resolve”, - said Tea Tsulukiani during the hearing.