Rapid changes in Shida Kartli’s law enforcement have met mixed reaction. After contraband goods were seized in transit from Tskhinvali to Gori, the head of the Kareli police was arrested and Shida Kartli’s police deputies were dismissed. A real fight against contraband, an attempt to weaken Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili’s influence, a merciless fight for spheres of influence and control of contraband – all these were discussed yesterday, but it’s hard to say what’s really happening.

Shida Kartli’s regional police administration and regional heads of the district police departments were dismissed according to a decision made by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili at the March 13 Security Council session. Saakashvili also stated that he himself would oversee the investigation into contraband in the region.

According to Saakashvili, the Prosecutor General’s Office has evidence proving that the heads of regional and district police were involved in contraband activities. Saakashvili stated, “Sixteen Georgian soldiers died a few months ago while blocking the roads which separatists have used for smuggling. According to the evidence of the Prosecutor’s Office, Shida Kartli’s police administration was involved directly or indirectly in restoring contraband channels.” Saakashvili called the officers “Gori’s police mafia,” stating that a criminal case would ensue on their wide scale smuggling links with separatists.

This all started when a car transporting contraband manganese from Tskhinvali was stopped. It appears that this contraband manganese was being convoyed by the patrol and regional police. They were arrested. Kareli Police Chief Besik Giorgashvili, appointed a year ago when Irakli Okruashvili was Minister of Internal Affairs, was also arrested soon afterwards.

Giorgashvili was captured by a Special Forces unit, and he was charged with aiding contraband activities. Evidence against him has been publicized by mass media by Saakashvili’s order. A recorded phone conversation between Giorgashvili and his deputy proves that they were guilty of the charge.

Mamuka Nozadze, Giorgashvili’s lawyer, states, “Court permission is needed for use of such recorded evidence. The prosecution has no such permission in our case, and therefore this recording cannot be used as evidence.” Nozadze claims that certain high-ranking officials are interested in arresting Giorgashvili, and that these people have no intentions of fighting contraband at all.

Nozadze told 24 Saati (Hours), “A few days ago, Giorgashvili was brought to the Ministry of Internal Affairs together with the head of Kaspi’s police. This was more like a kidnapping. Both of them were pressured to testify against Aleko Sukhitashvili and Mikheil Kareli, but they refused. On Saturday, the TV program Droeba broadcast an announcement, which hinted that Giorgashvili was informing the TV channel about what had happened. On Sunday morning he was arrested. Now you decide what happened.” Nozadze says that he does not know specifically who had pressured Giorgashvili to testify against Sukhitashvili and Kareli.

Aleko Sukhitashvili was dismissed from his position soon after Giorgashvili’s arrest.

Sukhitashvili had already been known as a member of Irakli Okruashvili’s team when the latter was the governor of the Shida Kartli region and Mikheil Kareli was his deputy. They acted together to blow up the contraband roads and close the Ergneti market. After the information about planned anti-contraband operations leaked for several times, Sukhitashvili remained virtually the only police officer who enjoyed Okruashvili’s trust.

Sukhitashvili was dismissed, suspected of “restoring the contraband roads.” Vladimir Jugheli, former Head of the Special Operations Division of the Internal Affairs Ministry, has taken over Sukhitashvili’s post. The Internal Affairs Minister did not waste any time in appointing him – the Security Council session had not even finished when Deputy Internal Affairs Minister Bidzina Bregadze set off for Gori with Jugheli.

Finally, one prediction proved wrong on March 13. Many expected that Mikheil Kareli would also be dismissed. However, Saakashvili decided that Kareli and the Interior Affairs Minister and the Prosecutor General should work together to fight contraband.

As for Kareli, he states that while many people claim that contraband is under control in this region, it still exists, and contraband goods are still transported.