Elene Tevdoradze Protests Convicting the Editor-In-Chief of Khalkhis Gazeti with Pre-Detention

Elene Tevdoradze Protests Convicting the Editor-In-Chief of Khalkhis Gazeti with Pre-Detention

Tbilisi. 05.08.04. Media News
Bondo Vacheishvili, the chairman of Gori District Court convicted Revaz Okruashvili, the editor-in-chief of Khalkhis Gazeti (The People’s Newspaper) with three months pre-detention late at night on August 4, 2004. Revaz Okruashvili is charged with keeping drugs.

Elene Tevdoradze, the chairperson of Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Georgian parliament protests convicting Revaz Okruashvili with three months pre-detention.

Tevdoradze is convinced that the case against Okruashvili is “made up”; she believed that the hearing of the case would be conducted lawfully. According to Tevdoradze her belief was even strengthened by the fact that prisoners who had been detained with charges of using and selling drugs were finally tried under other articles.

“This is probably happening because they do not have the evidence regarding concrete facts and putting drugs into the people’s pockets is an easier way to detain them. As for Revaz Okruashvili’s case his detention so much coincides with the period when he published quite sharp articles, that  it is hard to believe that Okruashvili really is a drug dealer. He was probably punished because he opposed Regional Governor” – mentioned Elene Tevdoradze.

According to Tina Khidasheli, one of the leaders of Young Lawyers’ Association since Irakli Okruashvili, the Interior Minister made statements against the editor-in-chief of the newspaper the court could not be expected to make another decision.

Revaz Okruashvili’s wife is going to go on a hunger strike with demand to release his husband.

Okruashvili’s lawyer is going to file an appeal against the sanction of his client’s imprisonment in Tbilisi Regional Court.