Manana Giorgobiani, accused of organizing group violence near a supermarket, has been remanded in custody as a preventive measure.

The decision was made by Judge Arsen Kalatozishvili of the Tbilisi City Court.

At today’s hearing, the court considered the preventive measures to be imposed on the detainee.

According to prosecutor Giorgi Dolakidze, there were risks that the defendant might flee, commit new crimes, or influence witnesses, which justified the strictest preventive measure – imprisonment.

The defense opposed this request. According to lawyer Levan Marsagishvili, a bail of 5,000 GEL should have been applied instead.

Additionally, the lawyer noted that Giorgobiani has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination. During this discussion, Giorgobiani interrupted her lawyer and spoke herself:

“I am not crazy, don’t lie. I have no disorder. After my child’s death, I began seeing saints… I was told it’s God’s grace; I do not have bipolar disorder. I have been using drugs for 30 years,” Giorgobiani stated.

The judge asked her why she uses drugs.

“Because I like them, that’s why,” Giorgobiani replied, continuing:

“I recently threw away amphetamines. Psychotropic drugs affect me badly; they were given to me at my child’s memorial, and I was placed in a psychiatric ward. Drugs do not affect me. I am not crazy, and no one should use this against me,” she said.

Also today, the court will hear cases of five other individuals detained in the same case, including Jako Charkviani, the son of singer Mamuka Charkviani.

Manana Giorgobiani has been charged under Article 225, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns organizing and leading group actions accompanied by violence. This charge carries a penalty of up to 9 years of imprisonment.

As for the five other detainees, including Jako Charkviani, they are accused of participating in the group violence.