The Interim Fact-Finding Commission on the Activities of the Regime, the Political Leaders of the Regime of 2003-2012 and the Activity of the Incumbent and Former Officials in the Political Unions since 2003 up to today holds a series of sittings. Today, the Commission members heard the explanations by the parents of the young men murdered during the Navtlugi special operation.

According to Mikheil Artmeladze, on January 12, 2006, Data Akhalaia orchestrated a clandestine operation resulting in the fatal shooting of three unarmed young men - his son, Marad Artmeladze, Roman Surmanidze, and Shota (Murad) Gorgadze - without prior warning. Artmeladze further alleged that Data Akhalaia even fired a control shot at the deceased individuals.

According to the reporter, law enforcement officers, to get justified, placed the firearms near the shot boys, fabricating their alleged participation in the terrorist acts. They urged that these individuals were eliminated during the gunfight.

As highlighted, all three young men were accused of attempting to assault the Rustavi Penitentiary Department.

As per the assessment of M. Artmeladze, his son and two of his friends were shot down for the purpose of intimidating others, and he was even prohibited from expressing any information about the incident. As observed by him, the newly appointed authorities conferred upon him the status of an affected person. Subsequently, the Courts of all three instances rendered a judgment of acquittal, thereby affirming the innocence of his son. According to him, the death of his son caused the demise of his wife.

The Commission also questioned Otar Surmanidze, the father of Roman Surnanidze, also shot down during the Navtlugi special operation. As he had indicated, he intended to submit the application to the police department for the investigation of the tragic incident. However, he received a phone call threatening the elimination of his other children. This compelled him to collect his family and depart from Georgia in search of refuge in Turkey, only to return to his homeland after the government`s change.

Chairperson of the Commission, Tea Tsulukiani underscored that the case of the three murdered boys will be reflected in the conclusion: “I would like to assure you that this case and the truth about your children will be clearly reflected in the conclusion. This will serve as the basis for the prohibition of the UNM and its satellite members from the political arena through a claim to the Constitutional Court. This case will be incorporated into the legal proceedings initiated by the Georgian Dream authorities, with your unwavering support. The judgments of all three instances have been rendered, and the innocence of your children has been unequivocally confirmed. While it cannot alleviate the anguish and suffering you have endured, it is imperative that your sons should not be wrongly labelled by the perpetrators, it is vital for the dignity of your families and names, for Ajara, our country and society. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your time and dedication to attending the sitting. Your presence, as a representative of your esteemed family from your home region of Ajara, embodies the quintessential qualities that define our nation. Georgia`s strength lies in the unity and resilience of its regions, and Ajara`s contributions are invaluable to our collective well-being. In contrast, the Navtlugi special operation case is not solely the deliberate murder perpetrated by certain political officials, but rather an assault against Ajara, against dignity, while we strive to provide special attention to Ajara, particularly the mountainous Ajara".