Interview with Nino Kitia, December 2005
Following Shevardnadze’s repressions of his father Remi Vashakidze, his son waits to be sentenced by Saakashvili
Holder of the Order of Honor, founder of the “Chabukiani-Balanchine” Foundation, founder of a festival having the same name, producer of numerous modern and classic ballet performances, son of Remi Vashakidze repressed by Shevardnadze, father of three children...
This is a small part of Tamaz Vashakidze’s biography, against whom a criminal case was initiated. Once the regime of Shevardnadze has convicted the head of the Railway Transport Department on an absurd charge, and now the repressed
Vashakidze family is waiting to be sentenced by Saakashvili. Tamaz Vashakidze’s wife who stayed with three little children, who has repeatedly experienced fear during
the visits of uninvited guests and their threats, is also waiting for this sentence...
They will mark the year 2006 without head of their family. Let’s see what other
surprises is preparing them the coming New Year! And meanwhile let’s listen to Mrs. Nino Kitia, who tells to the newspaper “Asaval-Dasavali” about details which represent the reason of the government’s desire to sentence her husband.
— The persecution of my family started after Mrs. Nino Ananiashvili had come back to Georgia. My suspicions are based on the facts. I will tell you everything, and you’ll make your own judgment... In July 2004 Tamaz was suddenly dismissed from the functions of director, artistic director, teacher and ballet master of the Ballet Art School. In fact, he was deprived of his profession. They said that the reason for that was the lack of qualification (and he graduated from St. Petersburg Conservatoire, his merited artist of Georgia and was awarded with the Order of Honor). Thought, it was clear that the reason was different... Nino Ananiashvili was appointed artistic director of the school. And the general manager’s function was given to Zviad Bakradze — cousin of Grigol Vashadze, Nino Ananiashvili’s husband, who used to work as a guard in a penal colony! Tamaz could not stand such unfair treatment and filed a case demanding to restore him in his functions. He wrote about all that happened in several newspaper articles. The first signal of threat came exactly at that time. Someone called to our house and warned us — be careful! Few days later there was another call: stop it, while it’s not too late! This time Tamaz made a statement for press, that his life was threatened! Nobody paid attention to his words. And soon after that my children and me, we had an accident... A white “Lada” car followed us first for a long time, and then it hit our car and disappeared. We still get threats! I don’t leave the house, especially with children. In September 2004 Nino Ananiashvili and Zviad Bakradze deprived Tamaz of the right to teach, and in October, under pretext of restructuring he was dismissed from the function of ballet master, leaving him without job. And he is the only breadwinner in the family.. . . >>
