Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission hears testimony on murder of Roin Shavadze, property rights violation of Georgian Technical University

Georgian Parliament’s Temporary Investigative Commission examining alleged crimes committed by the former United National Movement Government between 2003 and 2012 on Thursday reviewed the murder of Roin Shavadze, a Brigade Sergeant of the Georgian armed forces, and the violation of property rights of the Georgian Technical University.

On August 16, 2008, Georgian security forces arrested Roin Shavadze in the streets of Batumi. Eyewitnesses report seeing the security officers beating him, before they put him in a police van. Six hours later, a police officer notified Shavadze’s wife of the death of her husband.

Tsitsino Shavadze appeared before the Commission to provide testimony regarding the murder of her husband. According to her account, shortly after returning from the August 2008 war, Roin Shavadze was detained, tortured, and executed by officers of the Constitutional Security Department of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

She stated that following his murder, her family faced continuous pressure and threats. Authorities demanded their silence, interfered with funeral arrangements, and prevented relatives and friends from attending the burial.

Tsitsino Shavadze believes that the reason for Roin Shavadze's murder could have been his critical stance towards the actions of the Commander-in-Chief and military leaders during the August war.

In a separate session, the commission also heard testimony from three individuals - David Gurgenidze, Karlo Kopaliani, and Nodar Museridze - regarding the alleged illegal transfer of property belonging to the Georgian Technical University.

David Gurgenidze, the former principal of GTU, stated that the unlawful appropriation of university property began in 2006 and was finalized in 2008.

He claimed that in 2006, at the initiative of Giuli Alasania, then-president Mikheil Saakashvili’s mother, a research and master’s degree center focused on Western civilization programs was established at the university. This center later became the basis for the private “University of Georgia”.

According to Gurgenidze, the establishment of the center marked the beginning of intense pressure on GTU. With the involvement of state institutions and changes to legislation, a portion of GTU’s property was transferred to the University of Georgia.

Karlo Kopaliani, the University’s chancellor, accused Giuli Alasania of orchestrating the expropriation of GTU’s property with support from her son, then-president Saakashvili.

“She robbed the Technical University. First, she opened a center with a few classrooms. Then, she took almost half of the property”, Kopaliani said.

He also stated that all privatization conditions were violated and that no documentation could be found confirming payment to the state budget for the privatized property.

Nodar Museridze, who led GTU’s department of student relations, sports, culture, social affairs, and international relations until 2006, described a period of unprecedented pressure on the University leadership and students following the 2004 change of Government.

He testified that pressure was applied through multiple channels, including the forced dismissal of professors under the guise of reforms. He cited the suspension of accreditation and the removal of the principal and chancellor as examples of political interference.

Museridze also claimed he was dismissed from his position in 2006 due to his criticism of government policies.

In 2008, he was arrested, allegedly in connection with irregularities in the privatization process, though he believes his past political activity - both at GTU and later as a Central Election Commission member nominated by the opposition - was the real reason behind his detention.