The court left Irakli Okruashvili in pre-trial imprisonment

The Tbilisi City Court left Irakli Okruashvili, the leader of the Victorious Georgia, in the pre-trial imprisonment, under the criminal case related with the June 20-21, 2019 events. 

On March 31, the defense side solicited to cancel pre-trial imprisonment but Judge Lavrenti Maghlakelidze did not satisfy the solicitation of the lawyer. 

As the judge clarified, he did not see the point to change the compulsory measure because defendant Irakli Okruashvili is in pre-trial imprisonment under the criminal case and the compulsory measure was not changed by Judge Lasha Chkhikvadze at the March 26 court hearing. 

Irakli Okruashvili was sentenced to pre-trial imprisonment on July 27, 2019 under the charges brought in relation with the June 20-21, 2019 events. The prosecution blames him in the violation of the Article 225 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which refers to the organization and participation in group violence. 

In parallel to that, on November 19, 2019 the prosecutor’s office brought another charge against Irakli Okruashvili – abuse of official duties. The charges are related with the special operation which was carried out 16 years ago – on November 24, 2004, and when 19-years-old Amiran (Buta) Robakidze was killed by a patrol police officer. 

The court continues examination of the criminal case against Irakli Orkuashvili. 

HRC, in the frame of the project Public Events Monitoring, monitors court hearings over 12 allegedly politically motivated cases. Two criminal cases against Irakli Okruashvili are among them.