Levan Gogichaishvili – Victim of Revenge

Ana Sheshaberidze

Trial on the young activist of the opposition party Levan Gogichaishvili still continues. The court is discussing the claimings of the prosecutor... Attorney and friends of Gogichaishvili speak about the partiality of the court and claim that they do not trust to the judge.

Levan Gogichaishvili is accused for having participated in the incident after the birthday party of Irina Batiashvili (daughter of opposition leader Irakli Batiashvili) and having wounded Davit Lezhava.

Gogichaishvili was detained on June 16; he was charged under Article 117, Part V-“c” of the Criminal Code of Georgia that envisages premeditated injury of other person; if the court finds him guilty he will have to spend 7-9 years in prison.

Lawyers Natia Korkotadze and Malkhaz Jangirashvili represent Gogichaishvili at the court.

Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia spread information about the detention of Gogichaishvili on June 17. According to their statement, the investigation had interrogated witnesses of the incident who refused to cooperate with the investigation. The name of the suspect was mentioned by the relatives of the wounded person.

Natia Korkotadze said none of interrogated 15 witnesses have witnessed the incident itself. They learned about it only from other people or from TV. Consequently, the charge of Gogichaishvili can neither confirmed nor neglected. There is no evidence against him. He does not plead guilty and claims to be innocent.

“From the day of the incident to June 17, during nine days, Levan Gogichaishvili was at home and when his name was mentioned by the investigation he expresses readiness to cooperate with them and answer all their questions,” said Natia Korkotadze. Thus, his guiltiness is doubtful.

Second attorney of Levan Gogichaishvili, Malkhaz Jangirashvili considers him to be arbitrarily detained and thinks that he shall be released immediately. The attorney speaks about the violation of his client’s rights. Jangirashvili claims that the judge did not give the defense side enough time to study case materials. “It is impossible to study two volumes of the case. Reading is not enough. We should learn the case thoroughly and plan tactic; however we had short time,” said Malkhaz Jangirashvili. The attorneys requested 10 days but the judge did not satisfy their request. The defense side claims that the judge does not satisfy any of their motion.

Attorneys of Gogichaishvili state that their client was detained on political grounds and they do not believe in the impartiality of the court.

Jaba jishkariani, a friend of the detainee and activist of the political movement “November 7”, thinks the same about Gogichaishvili’s detention. He says his friend was arrested because they held protest demonstrations when Mikheil Saakashvili was having dinner in restaurants. Gogichaishvili also participated in those demonstrations. As Jishkariani claims President’s comment on Levan Gogichaishvili’s detention was the following: “That scum does not allow me to eat and let him sit in prison.”

Mamuka Abramidze, Tea Tsereteli and Ioseb Kasrashvili were interrogated as witnesses. They claim to have witnessed the incident. According to their statements Levan Gogichaishvili was too aggressive with other young fellows that evening.

Jaba Jishkariani considers abovementioned people false witnesses. “They said they were in Kojori on June 9 and went to Tskneti at 11:00 pm. The incident happened at 12:05 am; that means they spent one hour to get to Tskneti while it is only 15-minute drive from Kojori to Tskhneti.” Jishkariani also added that testimonies of Mamuka Abramidze and Tea Tsereteli differ from each other.

The defense side does not believe the court will pass unbiased judgment; they think the judgment is already prepared and the trials are ordinary formality that shall be preserved. Malkhaz Jangirashvili said the judge has already received clear directions from Mikheil Saakashvili and Givi Targamadze.

Jishkariani said not only president of Georgia wanted to revenge Gogichaishvili but prosecutor Goderdzi Goderdzishvili is also eager to arrest him because he protected the policemen who beat three children close to the Club “Gvirabi.” Levan Gogichaishvili and Jishkariani were demanded criminal prosecution of those policemen.

Attorneys of Gogichaishvili will use all legal methods to prove their innocence. Nevertheless, they do not believe in the impartiality of the court.

On the same topic:

Levan Gogichaishvili Will Stay in a Pretrial Detention till the End of Investigation 

25-day Imprisonment for Protecting Political Prisoners and Freedom of Expression