Democrat Movement Protests Tornike Arevadze’s Imprisonment

Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze at the Rustavi City Court sentenced member of Democrat Movement and Public Assembly Tornike Arevadze to four-year imprisonment based on the request of prosecutor Mirza Subeliani. Democrat Movement reported Interpresnews about it.

The statement of the party reads that on October 22, 2012 Tbilisi Helsinki Group granted Tornike Arevadze status of a political prisoner.

“Democrat Movement” hopes soon every political prisoner will return home and every judge, prosecutor and police officer, who implemented political orders of the regime, will be tried by fair court and be held responsible for their criminal offences in accordance to the law,” the statement reads.

In addition to that, party representatives state that it is clear it was preliminarily planned dirty political provocation, which was implemented by remnants of National Movement’s dictatorship with their usual methods with the support of prosecutor’s office and court against People’s Assembly and Democrat Movement.

“Several months ago we held briefing where Tornike Arevadze’s lawyer Nona Pilauri spoke about this case in details. It was evident that Rustavi police and prosecutor’s office provoked Tornike Arevadze with the support of their spy Vakhtang Danelia; they wanted to prevent him from political activities. On March 8, 2012 an incident occurred in the restaurant Kalakuri in Rustavi but Arevadze did not take part in it. Two months later, as a result of the investigation carried out by police on May 8, 2012 Tornike Arevadze was arrested based on the faked testimony of the victim. Arevadze still categorically denies his participate in the incident and does not plead himself guilty,” the statement reads.

According to Democrat Movement, dozens of witnesses were interrogated during 5 months and none of them confirmed Tornike Arevadze’s participation in the incident.

“Vakhtang Daleia, arrested together with Arevadze, initially pleaded guilty and denied Arevadze’s participation in the incident but at the final trial he changed his initial testimony based on the plea-agreement with the prosecutor’s office and blamed Arevadze in exchange of his freedom. Additionally, he clarified that he had not blamed Arevadze initially because he was oppressed by People’s Assembly and Democrat Movement,” the statement reads.

Interpresnews