Rights defenders treat proofs in Georgian oppositionists’ case as artificial

The supporters of Georgia’s European integration, accused of involvement in violence at protest actions held in Tbilisi, are not charged with the actions described by the suffered law enforcers. The aim of the trial is to intimidate the civil society so that people are afraid to take part in protests, human rights defenders believe.

Zviad Tsetskhladze, Vepkhiya Kasradze and Vasil Kadzelashvili are accused of organizing and leading group violence (the article provides for up to nine years of freedom deprivation). Tornike Goshadze, Nikoloz Djavakhishvili, Irakli Miminoshvili, Giorgi Gorgadze, Insaf (also referred to as Ilsam) Aliev, Andro Chichinadze, Onise Tskhadadze, Guram Mirtskhulava, Luka Djabua, Djano Archaia, Ruslan Sivakov, Valeri Tetrashvili, Giorgi Terishvili, Irakli Kerashvili, Revaz Kiknadze and Sergey Kukharchuk have been charged with participating in group violence, an offense that envisions up to six years of freedom deprivation.

According to the NGO “Transparency International-Georgia”, the case against the above eight defendants was artificially created and is politically motivated. It is aimed at punishing the defendants for taking part in civil protests, as well as at intimidating the society at large – especially student groups and young people – to discourage them from participating in the protest movement, the NGO has stated.

There are no factual proofs in the case that would confirm the defenders’ guilt. The main proofs are in audio and video materials that were obtained in violation of the law, human rights defenders have emphasized.

Those accused of jointly planning violent actions got acquainted only in the prisoners' dock, and the proof of their guilt – a record of the conversation – was made public by the “Imedi” TV Company, Alexander Baramidze, an activist of the above NGO, has noted.

"It is clear that this recording was made secretly, and in order to make such recordings secretly, there must be a court order for this, which is absent in this case," he has added.