26 protesters in Georgia face long prison terms
In recent days, 26 people have been detained in criminal cases related to riots at rallies in Georgia. Some of them face up to 7 years in prison, others – up to 9. Another 300 people have been detained under administrative articles.
An investigation is underway against 13 people under articles on organizing or participating in group violence, as well as hooliganism. Another protester is accused of preparing an explosion. Criminal cases have been opened against nine people under articles on damaging city property and attacking police officers.
A Tbilisi court sentenced the leader of the opposition party Strong Georgia Aleko Elisashvili to arrest as a preventive measure. According to the prosecutor, he verbally and physically insulted the chairman of the National Congress of Azerbaijanis of Georgia, a member of the Georgian Dream Ali Babayev in connection with his political activities. The lawyer of the detainee claimed that it was Babayev who insulted Elisashvili for political reasons and tried to hit the oppositionist with an iron bar.
One of the leaders of the opposition "Coalition for Change" Nika Gvaramia was sentenced to 12 days of administrative arrest. On December 4, he was detained in the office of the "Droa" party for petty hooliganism and disobedience to the police.
