The Georgian NGO Young Barristers publishes public statements made by the international institution with regard of the disputed property, owned by Giorgi Papuashvili, the President of the Constitutional Court of Georgia and notes, that the President of the Constitutional Court tries to prove his innocence through international image and tries to gain support from European colleges.
Archil Kaikatsishvili, the Head of Young Barristers introduced evaluations made by the European Parliament, European Commission and Venice Council members with regard of the disputed property owned by the President of the Constitutional Court of Georgia.
In the report, prepared by Mr. Thomas Hamenberg, “Georgia in the transition period”, Filip Camarisi, the Head of the Directorate General of the Eastern Partnership and Russian Foreign Policy Department of the Council of Europe, notes that the rights related to the property deserves special attention. “We are aware of the number of complaints regarding property rights violations in Georgia. In spite of the fact, that you have represented a separate case, in the Hamenberg’s report there is a general recommendation: if the court recognizes that the violation of the property right has really occurred - “when the restitution is possible, it should be made immediately”.
In the letter of Dirk Shubel, the Head of the Directorate of Russian, Eastern Partnership and Central Asia Department of the Council of Europe, it is noted, that the cases of the property confiscations is a significant challenge for the Government of Georgia. “the appeals to the court with the request to restitute the property has increased significantly since 2012 elections. The claimants note in their complaints that their property had been confiscated by force against their will. The new Government had publicly announced, that they ensure restoration of justice and in these circumstances, it is essential for the current Government to provide adequate solution for the victims. As for the Venice Council, it is a 3rd European Institution to comment on the fact of Giorgi Papuashvili’s residence in the property confiscated from Roland Bladadze. As it is stated in the letter of Thomas Market, the Director of the Secretariat of the Venice Council, the Council is fully acquainted with case. Venice Commission cannot consider Roland Bladadze’s case content as it represents an individual case, however, Venice Commission has already got acquainted with the fact of owning disputed property by Giorgi Papuashvili.
We consider it relevant to note, that in accordance with the research, prepared by Young Barristers, “System Against the Citizen”, the President of the Constitutional Court of Georgia, Giorgi Papuashvili lives in the real estate confiscated from its legal owner since the Rose Revolution. Roland Bladadze appeared to be among those, whose property had been illegally confiscated by the Government in 2004. In 2007, the former President of Georgia, Mikeil Saakashvili trasmited disputed property confiscated from Mr. Bladadze to the President of the Constitutional Court of Georgia for symbolic price, 1000 GEL. On September 21, 2015, the Bladadze’s family made a public statement, requesting the Government of Georgia to conduct relevant investigation in order to return the property to its legal owner and restore justice in a timely manner. The English Language version of the research had been sent to the Diplomatic corps in Georgia, Constitutional Court of more then 20 countries and international organizations.
