Giorgi Demetradze’s Application Sent to Strasbourg Court

Football player Giorgi Demetradze lodged an application vs Georgia to the Strasbourg Court.

Georgian footballer, accused in the membership of criminal network, accuses the government of Georgia of breaching three articles of the European Convention: Article 6 (right to fair trial), Article 3 (inhuman treatment) and Article 8 (personal life).

Lawyer Marika Pkhaladze said her client was targeted to inhuman treatment in Rustavi Prison # 6 where he was not allowed to use credit card during two weeks and consequently, Demetradze could not buy hygiene items and food in the prison shop.

As for the alleged violation of the Article 6, the lawyer said judgments of all three instances of the national court were illegal. Although there were no signs of crime, Demetradze was convicted for the membership of criminal network and was put in prison for 6 years.

According to the lawyer, they can also prove alleged violation of the Article 8. Pkhaladze said Demetradze was arrested because he was friend of Vato Kipiani and Davit Gagnidze. The lawyer added that according to the Article 8 of the European Convention everybody has right to person life, to choose circle of friends. “There is police description in case materials which alleges that Dematradze is a friend of Gagnidze and Kipiani and he is criminal,” the lawyer said.

The court sentenced Giorgi Demetradze to six-year imprisonment.

Demetradze’s property – 30 000 USD found during the search - was seized in favor of the state.

The City Court sentenced Davit Gagnidze, arrested together with Demetradze, to eight-year imprisonment. His property was also seized as well as 10 700 USD found during the search in favor of the state. One more detainee Davit Peikrishvili pleaded guilty and he was sentenced to 6-year punishment as a result of the signed plea-agreement; Peikrishvili will serve two years in custody and rest four years will be changed into five-year conditional sentence. Peikrishvili had to pay fine of 30 000 GEL.

Demetradze, Gagnidze and Peikrishvili were charged under Article 2231 Part I of the Criminal Code of Georgia – membership of criminal network. More precisely, their accusation was linked with the funds won from the so-called “bet-makers” during World Cup Football 2010. According to the Tbilisi City Court, Vakhtang Kipiani, Giorgi Demetradze, Davit Gagnidze and Davit Peikrishvili actively assisted the winners in obtaining the won money and participated in the division of the money; part of the funds was accumulated in the so-called “criminal share”. The criminal group was arrested when distributing money. Law enforcement officers withdrew 40 700 USD during the search.

Vato Kipiani was convicted in absence and he is sought.

IPN