"As a prosecutor, I believe that a strict punishment should be applied for such an act. It must be strict and relevant to the committed act and each action of the accused, starting from the issuance of the indictment, his expressed will, his principled stance, his deliberate violation of the law, his disregard for the rule of law, his disregard for the circumstances defined by the ruling, and the current outcome," stated Prosecutor Natia Tatiashvili regarding the case of Zurab Girchi Japaridze, leader of the Girchi - More Freedom party.
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Zurab Girchi Japaridze did not attend the court hearing held on June 17. "He does not wish to exercise his right to a final statement. He agrees that the evidence should become undisputed. The reason for his non-appearance is distrust of the court. He told me that the same judge imprisoned Nika Gvaramia, and he won’t deliver the right verdict," explained lawyer Irakli Chomakhashvili regarding Zurab Girchi Japaridze's absence from the proceedings.
Judge Jvebe Nachkebia postponed the final hearing to June 23. According to the judge, he’s giving the accused a chance to attend the hearing.
Subsequently, a letter from Zurab Girchi Japaridze was released, in which he writes that he will not attend the court hearing on June 23 either.
“The court hearings are to ascertain whether someone committed a crime or not, and there's nothing more to clarify about my case.
No one in this courtroom has any doubts about me, nor can they say I harmed someone. Therefore, this court isn't about me.
This court process is entirely about the so-called Judge Jvebe Nachkebia, even though he can’t grasp that. People attend these proceedings to see in real life what Jvebe will do. Just 4-5 days ago, Jvebe imprisoned a completely innocent person in a cell three away from mine. Was Nika Gvaramia trying to escape somewhere? Or did he commit a repeated crime?
Judge Jvebe did not change the pre-trial measure for Anton Chechin, who remains imprisoned. Chechin was arrested on political grounds, has an unspecified cancerous growth on his head, and visibly bears marks of physical abuse on his body.
That's why I didn't come to the hearing today, and that's why I won't come on the 23rd either… Only a full acquittal will indicate that Jvebe is no longer part of this circus,” Japaridze wrote.
Opposition politician Zurab Girchi Japaridze was arrested in the courtroom on May 22 by order of Judge Irakli Shvangiradze. Japaridze had been issued a GEL 20,000 bail as a pre-trial measure for failing to appear before the so-called temporary investigative commission (Tsulukiani's commission) established in the Georgian Dream parliament, which he did not pay.
For the same reason, Coalition For Change leaders Nika Melia and Nika Gvaramia, as well as former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, have been arrested. Several other politicians have paid bail, and the criminal cases against them are ongoing.
