The appeal of Nanuli Vakhania, sister of Political Prisoner Vladimir Vakhania
To the representative of the EU in Georgia, Mr. Per Eklund
From Political Prisoner VladimirVakhania’s sister Nanuli Vakhania (Right Bank Street 60, Zugdidi tel: 895-20-30-22)
In Tbilisi on 18.08.2009 my brother Vladimir Vakhania was transferred from prison number 1. D. Khvitia, Vice Prosecutor of Zugdidi, prosecuted him before judge Kekenadze and the lawyers J. Shelia, J. Zarandia, Lomia, L. Aptsiauri and L. Gelashvili argued his case.
I have high-level medical education and long experience of working in intensive therapy. This is the sixth month that my brother has been in unlawful detention. Seeing my brother in court was a shock for me. In front of us was an emaciated man, with exaggerated features, dramatic skin pallor, sharp white sclerotic eyes, a look characteristic of sepsis and blue hands, a person desperately trying to focus and open his eyes wide.
As a doctor, I saw that my brother had chronic septicaemia, a chronic intoxication with an unknown poison, I think arsenic (HAD). Such patients are usually hospitalised by me in intensive care or life support. My brother, in this condition, was transferred in a car called a Chornaya Vorona without medical escort, rest and nutrition. In the court session he felt very bad and an ambulance was called. He was diagnosed as suffering from a hypertensive crisis, having a pulse of 220/120 as against the standard 110/70. They wanted to take this kind of patient to Tbilisi in the same way, refusing my request that he be hospitalised. I was even refused the possibility of easing his condition.
Because of his deteriorating health my brother was placed in Zugdidi prison number 4. With full responsibility I declare: the intentional destruction of a person’s life is taking place.
At Tbilisi prison number 1 my brother was being systematically poisoned, I think with arsenic. The complications of chronic intoxication and chronic sepsis are anaemia, which was clearly visible even at first sight; depletion, yellowness of skin and blue asphyxiated hands. My brother needs urgent detoxification, urgent medical assistance, hospitalisation and observation.
He has been in Zugdidi prison three days already, but not even been placed in the medical section. Human rights defence organs of Georgia have been consistent in their support of my brother. The court made no answer to the sound arguments of the defence in this case. Its only response was the rejection of all motions. It rejected even releasing him on bail as a person with a serious health condition.
Dear Mr. Eklund,
My brother is being judged by murderers! They torture him, and get pleasure from doing this! If the European Union does not help him urgently, they will kill him!
I do not understand why countries who consider themselves strongholds of democracy and humanity are so indifferent to the fate of a person and scientist against whom deeds which would be awful in any civilized country are being committed. These countries, by not reacting to such deeds, automatically encourage the Georgian Government in its fascist, antihuman actions and escalation of the situation!
It seems that the EU and USA are totally indifferent to the Georgian people, and their only interest is in the Government, 50% of whose prisoners are innocent people. This challenges our people to oppose the European Union.
My brother gifted to the Georgian Government a programme of development, reunification and revival. His programme for a federal facility in Georgia was launched by senior state officials. But as a reward, Vladimir has received only imprisonment! They wish to destroy him!
My brother Vladimir is a Russian citizen. His death could cause tension between Russia and Georgia, even a war between the two countries. Do you not know who is benefiting from this?! But I do not want my brother to suffer in a dispute between two countries – he and his little children, who depend on him.
About 300 people participated in the detention of my brother. They were searching for a tape recording. On this exact day two EU cars passed my house, but gave no reaction! I beg you to help me secure the release of my brother.
This Government cannot show remorse! I am amazed that there is no response to the criminal harassment of my brother - the legal proceedings, his detention, his poisoning in prison. I ask you to kindly take measures to free an innocent man from being illicitly done away with, taking into consideration the facts I have described in the letter. I beg you to help my brother and his children to resume family life. You have been given all the evidence which proves his innocence.
