Natia Korkotadze: “If Trial Is Fair, Vakhtang Maisaia Shall Be Released from Court Room”

The court will pass final judgment on military expert Vakhtang Maisaia, who is detained for espionage, presumably early in February. The proceeding has been going in closed regime for 5 months already. News Agency “Pirveli” has interviewed the attorney Natia Korkotadze about the details and presumed results of the case-discussion.

-Vakhtang Maisaia was detained on the day of Mukhrovani Mutiny. Society doubts the mutiny was a well-staged performance and detention of Maisaia aimed to make the scenario more convincing. How do you think, was there any connection between his detention and mutiny and why did they select Maisaia for this purpose?

-I think, it was political will of the government. When the so-called mutiny happened, Vakhtang was called from Bratislava and asked what was in fact going on here. Vakhtang replied it was no mutiny and everything was bluff; then he asked the person who called him to call in 2 hours because he was busy. Maisaia promised him to provide detailed information about the mutiny. Exactly 2 hours later he was detained. As an attorney of Maisaia, I would like to state that it was political will of our politicians. Soon after the detention, my client was under moral oppression. He was compelled to make the testimony according to the orders of the prosecutor’s office. Otherwise they threatened Maisaia with the detention of his mother and wife. His initial attorney Manana Chikovani also complicated situation who acted in favor of the prosecutor instead her client. She compelled Maisaia to accept the offer of the prosecutor and make the testimony they wanted; after that she could assist him in release. She tried to find parallels between detainee Simon Kiladze and Maisaia; the former had signed plea bargain. The family was very concerned because they realized something strange was going on with Maisaia.

-What can you say about the court proceeding which has been going in secret regime for 5 months already?

-They declared the case to be a secret and proceeding is going in secrete regime. The prosecutor claims he has evidence that Maisaia handed a secret map to somebody. However, this map was published in his black-and-white book in 2002 and then in color book published in 2007. Thus, this accusation is absurd. They also provided evidence as if Maisaia was sending secret materials about non-pilot planes, reservists, the wounded, victims, and armed units to somebody. However, the most interesting was moment when evidences were produced at the trial. When everything finished, they provided his laptop which was unsealed though it was sealed when withdrawn from the house as a proof. Maisaia’s wife Enem Abashidze and their neighbor Lamara Sidamonidze had confirmed the fact by their signature on the search protocol. Judge Zviad Esebua requested to seal the computer at the trial. The defense side protested it and refused to sign the seal protocol; consequently, the trial was postponed. However, 15 minutes after the trial, I was called from the court and asked to return to the court for uncertain reasons. At the court we found out that the judge had sealed the computer based on the agreements between the prosecutor and state attorney of detainee Irakli Batkuashvili (he was detained together with Maisaia). It was one of the proofs provided by the prosecutor and we petitioned to the court to decline this proof on January 25. If our petition is not satisfied, Maisaia will start hunger-strike.

-Was the former attorney of your client Manana Chikovani interrogated or not?

-Yes, she was interrogated and at the trial she made one important analyze. Apparently, the prosecutor had taught her what to say at the trial. I did not expect her to behave otherwise because in this case she could have been charged. I just wondered what she could dare to say. Her statement was not very important because we have all proofs how Maisaia periodically appealed to the public defender, non-governmental organizations and media for help because he was oppressed. Chikovani said she did not know about it.

-Media spread information that Maisaia was compelled to blame certain people in espionage. What was the reason of similar statement?

-When we requested the information why the prosecutor demanded Maisaia to name these people, and why they did not arrest those people, the prosecutor’s office replied that this issue was separately investigated. I think, the government was interested to blame them for espionage. However, Maisaia did not do it because the attorney was changed and he was not oppressed any longer. All this information was unofficially written and stored in his cell. His cell-mate Zaza Mchedlishvili, who gave explanation letter to the public defender, confirmed that Maisaia was taken out from the cell and interrogated 2-3 times a week.

-Maisaia was also ordered to blame an MP in espionage. Who was he and why his name was kept in secret?

-I do not know. You should ask this question to the prosecutor’s office. By the way, when the Human Rights Center carried out journalistic investigation, they sent materials to embassies and EU by e-mail. Mr. Gia Abashidze called me and I met French Envoy. He was astonished and stated that it was groundless accusation against him because in 2004-2008 he was advisor of Georgia in NATO and if he was a spy why he occupied similar position there?

-What can you say about participation of Russian FSB spy in the interrogation of Maisaia and whether the accused confirms this claiming?

-Yes, he does. Maisaia confirms this fact. During interrogation he was asked whether he knew that person; when Vakhtang refused, he was told the person was spy of Russian FSB.

-What kind of judgment do you expect from the court?

-The accusation against my client envisages imprisonment from 12 to 20 years. Let us see how the situation will develop. If the trial is fair, Maisaia shall be released from the court room.

Irina Ardashelia, News Agency “Pirveli”