I, Chairman of Georgian Bar Association express my deep concern regarding the act of violence against advocate Romeo Sajaia by prosecutor Levan Bachiashvili
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, as criminal authorities used to do, summons Corp of lawyers’ and conducts criminal proceedings unlawfully which is an anxious fact.
On January 8 2014 advocate Romeo Sajaia was summoned to the Prosecutor’s office in Tbilisi to conduct procedural action. In particular, prosecutor summoned with the purpose to hand him a case materials. Romeo Sajaia arrived to the Prosecutor’s Office in Tbilisi at 15:00 to receive case materials.
At that time prosecutor Levan Bachiashvili entered a room designed for defense (on the ground floor of office). He verbally abused and insulted physically advocate Romeo Sajaia. Specifically he spitted and punched him in a face. As a result advocate Romeo Sajaia was forced to defend himself from attacker. Advocate Romeo Sajaia suffered from obvious injuries.
I address disgraceful Prosecutor’s Office with an appeal to start effective investigation regarding the act of violence afainst advocate Romeo Sajaia promptly, to seize a video footage from the place of accident (ground floor of Prosecutor’s office in Tbilisi) and bring a charge against Levan Bachiashvili.
Publicly, I address ignominious prosecutors, those who aren’t aware of Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, I explain that lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients' causes as a result of discharging their functions. The whole civilized world recognizes and excepts “Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers” adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba 27 August to 7 September 1990.
According to the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers adopted by UN, Article 16:
” Governments shall ensure that lawyers
(A) Are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference;
(C) Shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.
17. Where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.
18. Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients' causes as a result of discharging their functions”.
