Rally outside government’s office in defense of Tbilisi zoo director Zurab Gurielidze, who was questioned by prosecutors after a white tiger, which was on the loose from flooded zoo, attacked and killed a man in Tbilisi center. Photo: Guram Muradov/Civil.ge
After having a “meeting” with the police, head of the Tbilisi zoo Zurab Gurielidze said “it’s my fault” that the government announced wrong information about none of the animal remaining on the loose outside the zoo.
A white tiger, which escaped from the zoo following the flooding, attacked and killed a man in a warehouse located close to the Heroes’ Square in the center of Tbilisi on June 17. The tiger was shot by the police.
Gurielidze’s remarks came after PM Irakli Garibashvili apologized for “spreading inaccurate information”; he, however, also pointed finger at the zoo administration, saying that he was relying on the information provided by the zoo and its director. Prosecutor’s office said that the investigation was launched into possible “negligence of official duties”.
“I acknowledge that the state agencies spread that information after I passed it along to them,” Gurielidze said. “After my notification, it was regarded that there was no threat whatsoever and of course it’s all my fault.”
He also said that the white tiger, which the zoo administration wrongly believed to be killed, turned out to be alive and on the loose. He was referring to the tiger which was shot after killing a man.
Asked if he was interrogated by the police, Gurielidze said that he had “certain meetings in the police”, but denied criminal charges were brought against him.
After making the statement for the press, he headed to the Tbilisi prosecutor’s office where he was summoned for questioning.
Gurielidze’s remarks, made after a “meeting” with the police and especially in the view of statements which zoo employs were making a day earlier saying that at least one tiger was remaining unaccounted for, triggered assumptions that he was possibly pressured by the authorities to take the blame.
It led to an impromptu protest rally outside the government’s office in Tbilisi.
Hundreds of people turned out at the rally, which was called on short notice through Facebook page, in support of Gurielidze and in protest against, what many demonstrators believed was authorities’ attempt to make the zoo director a scapegoat for their own failings, which led to death of a man in the tiger attack.
The protest rally was still ongoing, when Gurielidze left the Tbilisi prosecutor’s office on Wednesday evening. He said that he was asked by investigators about “mistakes” done in the process of recording those animals, which were still remaining unaccounted for. Prosecutor’s office said that questioning of the Interior Ministry employees, as well as representatives of the State Security and Crisis Management Council was also planned.
While demonstrators were still outside the government building, PM Irakli Garibashvili held a televised meeting of an emergency response headquarters, set up following the Tbilisi flooding.
Gurielidze was also present at the meeting.
Participants of a protest rally outside government’s office hold photos of Tbilisi zoo director Zurab Gurielidze, June 17, 2015. Photo: Guram Muradov/Civil.ge
Speaking at the meeting PM Garibashvili denied “rumors” that the authorities were planning to arrest the zoo director and praised him as a “professional”. The PM also told Gurielidze that nothing was his fault.
“These rumors are absurd, provocation and an attempt to mislead our society, and volunteers [who are involved in clearing up after flood],” Garibashvili said and claimed that the rally outside the government office was organized by opposition UNM party, which in fact had nothing to do with calling of this protest.
“I will be the first among the supporters of batoni Zurab [Gurielidze],” Garibashvili said.
He said that launch of an investigation by the prosecutor’s office into the “tragic” event involving death of a man in the tiger attack was a routine procedure.
“Now the most important is to keep calm,”
When Gurielidze told the PM at the meeting that it was his fault to miscount the animals, which led to tragedy, Garibashvili responded: “No, please don’t take blame for this tragedy; it’s not your fault… We have all went through very difficult days and I absolutely understand you.”
The director of the zoo also said that one tiger was still remaining unaccounted for, as well as one striped hyena.
He, however, also said that some enclosures in the zoo were still remaining in debris and mud and it has yet to be seen the tiger is dead in those enclosures.
But before the tiger remains unaccounted for, there is a chance that it is alive and on the loose in the city.
Police had to cordon off a street in the Vake district in the center of Tbilisi on June 17 after receiving a report that a tiger was spotted there. After searching the area, police said that nothing was found.
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