Hunger striking Tsotne Gamsakhurdia Visited by Metropolitan Teodore

Yesterday in the evening Metropoltan Teodore, an Orthodox Priest, visited Tsotne Gamsakhurdia, the middle son of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, the first democratically-elected President of Georgia in the Tbilisi Prison # 8.

Tsotne Gamsakhurdia does not agree with the accusations made against him and he has been hunger striking for the sixth day. Metropolitan Teodore blessed the prisoner and gave him communion bread and candles to light

Keti Bakauri, Gamsakhurdia’s attorney visited her client after Metropolitan Teodore.
Not one from the Georgian-based human rights organizations, including Gia Arsenishvili, the chairperson of Human Rights Protection and Civil Integration Committee has met the hunger striking prisoner up to present time.

Bekauri told news agency Medianews the prisoner’s health is in normal conditions and therefore, he continues his hunger strike.

“The investigation does not have any proof as yet, except for the notorious telephone conversation with Konstantine Gamsakhurdia. Tsotne Gamsakhurdia pleads not guilty and waits for the future developments regarding his case,” stated Bekauri and he further indicated that Gamsakhurdia was arrested for political grounds.

Tsotne Gamsakhurdia was arrested on September 3, 2008. He was charged for spying and participating in an attempted coup to topple Constitutional Law and Order (Articles 315 and 314 of the Criminal Code of Georgia) and he is subject to 20 years in prison.

“Based on the materials gained from secret bugging and surveillance, Tsotne Gamsakhurdia was arrested for the activity defined by Article 315 (Coup or uprising for removing constitutional order of Georgia) and 314 (spying) of the Criminal Code of Georgia,” as based on the information publicized by the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Source:Medianews