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Four Years and Six Months Imprisonment for the Suspects Convicted in the Raid on Television Company “Caucasia”

August 16, 2010

Interpressnews
 
Eight people arrested in connection with the incident occurred in the television company “Caucasia” were sentenced for four years and six months in prison by the Tbilisi City Court.

According to the Tbilisi City Court report, the court, after analyzing the provided evidence, confirmed the culpability of the suspects. The court heard the testimonies of the plaintiffs, who confirmed the incident that occurred in the television company “Caucasia”. It has been noted that intervention in journalistic activity and the physical violence had taken place, though, they stated, they do not have any pretension against the suspects, as they are not sure in their participation in the above mentioned violence.

The witness Kh.Sh described the events occurred in the television company in detail. He video-taped the events and presented the tape to the investigation that indisputably confirms the hooliganism and illegal intervention in the journalistic activities committed by the suspects. The witnesses B.M, R.M and M.M and more than 30 people interrogated as witnesses indicated that the suspects were the ones who committed the crime.

The incident, that took place in the television company, was confirmed by the defense side witness, former public defender, Nana Devdariani. The suspects were recognized by the witnesses and their acts are recorded in the video material of television company “Maestro” and “Caucasia.”

The court explains that the act committed by the reported suspects represents a law-violating and punishable act as regarded by the Criminal Code of Georgia and it does not have anything to do with religious, personal or other kinds of opinions. This act is punishable according to the criminal law rule, whether suspects reconciled with the victims, or the request of the criminal punishment has religious basis or not.

Davit Shalamberidze, Avtandil Zumbadze, Zviad Bliadze, Levan Chachua, Giorgi Gabedava, Rati Maisuradze, Shota Aphkhaidze and Jaba Gurchiani were convicted of committing group hooliganism and intervention in the professional activity of journalists on a preliminary agreement.

On May 7th, 2010, in the television company “Caucasia,” in the live broadcasting of the program “barrier” where the representatives of the Ilia State University administration, “The Union of Orthodox Parents” and “National Orthodox Movement” participated, the convicts illegally, using threats and violence, hindered the journalist Nino Jangirashvili to perform her professional work. She was forced to stop disseminating the information undesirable for them, roughly violated the public order, and physically and verbally assaulted the people presented in the program.

The parties can appeal against the verdict in a one month term. The lawyers of the convicts are going to use this right and appeal against the case in Tbilisi Appellate Court.

One of the lawyers of the convict, Besarion Qartsivadze, stated that the verdict declared by the Tbilisi City Court judge, Vaja Pukhashvili is unjust and groundless.

According to the lawyer, the prosecutor’s office presented no evidence that could prove the crime of the convicts in the hooliganism and intervention in journalistic activity. Neither witnesses, nor claimants could recognize the convicts. No video material proving the guilt of the convicts exists.

As Qartsivadze mentioned, all eight convicts met their verdict with chanting. Their chanting continued for 15 minutes in the court hall.

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