Office of Prosecutor Imposes Charge against Badri Bitsadze but Does not Request his Detainment

The Main Prosecutor’s Office charged Badri Bitsadze, the former head of the border police and a husband of Nino Burjanadze with the offence of “organization of attack against the policemen by the preliminarily created group” and requested the usage of bail as a compulsory measure.

“According to the testimonies of head of the partially military group created at Public Assembly Gia Uchava, five witnesses and the video, audio and other case evidence the Main Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia charged Badri Bitsadze with offence of the organization of attack on policemen by the preliminary created group,” – stated Deputy Prosecutor Davit Sakvarelidze at the briefing of May 30th.

The corresponding offence envisaged by the Part II of article 353 of the Criminal Code envisages the imprisonment extending from four to six months or imprisonment up to seven years. The formulation of the offence is the following “Resistance, Threat or Violence against Protector of Public Order or Other Government Representative.”

“The Office of Prosecutor will request usage of bail as a compulsory measure against Badri Bitsadze,” – states Sakvarelidze.

On May 27th the Ministry of Internal Affairs published the secret video footages where Badri Bitsadze talks about the preparedness of “Shepitsuli” groups for the May 21st protest rallies. Public Assembly stated before the start of the rallies that the “Shepitsuli” groups are created for “protecting population from the government violence.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs also published the testimony of Gia Uchava, one of the leaders of Shepitsuli where he talks about the plans of violence of Public Assembly and names Badri Bitsadze to be the organizer of this process. Uchava was detained on May 22nd in front of the Public Broadcaster during the dispute of police and demonstrators.

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