HRW and OSCE trace circumstances of detention in Georgia of ex-president of Meskhetian Turks' society

The case of Suleiman Barbakadze, former president of the international society of Meskhetian Turks "Vatan", arrested on July 26, is under supervision of human rights activists, Emil Adelkhanov, a rights defender from Tbilisi reports.

In particular, as Mr Adelkhanov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, the Human Rights Watch and Vincent de Graaf, adviser on legal issues of the OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities, are keeping their eye on Barbakadze's situation.

Let us remind you that Suleiman Barbakadze was detained in the Georgian city of Akhaltsikh (administrative centre of the Samtskhe-Dzhavakheti District of Georgia) on a charge of a swindle.

Katamadze, Barbakadze's advocate, believes that the accusation party has no direct proofs and his detention was illegal. Also, in the lawyer's opinion, his client's arrest has nothing to do with his earlier engagement in repatriation of Meskhetians.

Adelkhanov, in his turn, does not exclude that Barbakadze's detention could have relation to his activities in the post of the "Vatan" president; however, according to his story, it cannot be definitely stated that Barbakadze was got in wrong by someone.

The fact that Barbakadze is no longer "Vatan" president was confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Tashtan Aslanov, the current "Vatan" leader: "In 2007, a congress took place, where Barbakadze was replaced."

According to Adelkhanov, in spite of the fact that officially Barbakadze is no longer the "Vatan" leader, he continued his work on the problems of the Meskhetians who want to return home.

In Adelkhanov's opinion, the Georgian authorities fail to take due measures to return Meskhetian Turks home. "From the very beginning, they wanted to postpone repatriation as long as possible and diminish its scale; they succeeded in this," he said and noted that Georgia had failed its international obligations.