The article reports on the departure of Dr. Godoladze, a prominent scientist and former head of the Seismic Monitoring Center in Georgia, due to fears of politically motivated reprisals by the authorities.
Dr. Godoladze had been a vocal critic of the government’s actions during the 2008 war with Russia and had provided crucial evidence to the European Court of Human Rights. She had also spoken out against the financial problems faced by the Seismic Monitoring Center, which was co-financed by the US government.
In an interview with Mtis Ambebi, Dr. Godoladze stated that she feared for her safety and had considered staying in Georgia and going to prison rather than leaving the country. She emphasized that her decision to leave was not taken lightly and that she would continue to fight for her cause from outside the country.
The article also mentions other cases of people fleeing Georgia due to fears of politically motivated reprisals, including Irakli Shaishmelashvili, a former head of the Interior Ministry‘s Special Tasks Department, and Nata Peradze, an activist and founder of the “Talgha” movement. It also notes that artist Andro Dadiani had left the country for Berlin due to similar fears.
The article concludes by stating that Dr. Godoladze’s departure highlights the growing concerns about the government’s treatment of critics and scientists in Georgia, particularly those involved in sensitive or politically charged research.