Onise Tskhadadze: I want to say this to Mate: this country doesn’t belong to the judge or the prosecutor, it belongs to you! At 29, I feel like I’m 60 years old – I promise you, one day they will be the ones sitting here!

“I want to tell Mate: there is no darkness where you will need to search for light, because people like you are the light, and you will illuminate this country! I promise you – you won’t have to stay in prison for that long.”

This statement was made in court by Onise Tskhadadze, one of the protesters detained during the recent demonstrations and charged with group violence.

Tskhadadze also addressed the judge, saying that the court’s decision yesterday is a clear indication of what Nino Galustashvili will do in their case as well. Speaking to the judge, he added: “The ‘Georgian Dream’ (ruling party) won’t be in power forever.”

“So you’re sending them to prison... I won’t speak for everyone, but I will speak about one specific person – there is one small person sitting here, Luka Jambua...

I want to say this to Mate: there is no darkness where you will need to search for light, because people like you are the light, and you all will light up this country!

This country doesn’t belong to the judge, the prosecutor, or me – it belongs to you and your peers! This country belongs to Luka, and to those younger than you!

It’s sad that I’m saying this at age 29, but I’ve been through so much that I personally feel like I’m 60.

I promise you, you won’t have to be in prison that long. I promise you – the time will come in this country when we will have an independent judiciary, an independent prosecutor’s office, and every judge and prosecutor involved in this will one day sit right here, charged under the same article we are – group organized crime. Murusidze and Chinchaladze will be the organizers, and they will be prosecuted. That will happen!

Sorry, but I’m already sickened – by this trial and everything going on in this country. You’re sending a 21-year-old boy to prison – for what? With what motivation? Then you rush out of the courtroom so quickly that you don’t even want to hear people express their outrage! As if what you’re doing is just!

I don’t know if you’re capable of correcting the mistake you’ve made, but there’s this one small boy here... if only you knew what kind of person he is – I’ve never heard a single bad word from him, he’s calm, peaceful. A 19-year-old kid who loves reading books. Mate Devizde was just like that too.

While someone out there is slitting throats in the street, you’re going after students, actors, doctors. You should understand that the ‘Georgian Dream’ won’t last forever! Pay attention to how recklessly you’re playing with fire – the time will soon come when they bring about their own downfall.

And I’ll say something about the elections too – what elections?! These people will create such a situation in the country that no one will let them hold elections. So instead, you should help create that situation.”

Context: 21-year-old Mate Devizde, who was accused of assaulting a police officer during a protest, was found guilty by the court. Judge Nino Galustashvili sentenced him to 4 years and 6 months in prison. Devizde was arrested on November 19 at a rally on Melikishvili Avenue, where he reportedly swung a flagpole at a police officer.