The trial of former Prime Minister and leader of the For Georgia party, Giorgi Gakharia, is underway at the Tbilisi City Court in connection with the so-called Chorchana episode.

At today’s hearing, the court is considering whether to impose a preventive measure against Gakharia in absentia.

Before the session, Gakharia’s lawyer and member of For Georgia, Berdia Sichinava, told journalists that a “clown show” was taking place.

“This is a legal system created by Qvarqvare Tutaberidze, where everyone is sent to prison and punished for political reasons. Gakharia is the target of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s personal vendetta, which he himself announced in an interview before October 26.

Of course, all of this is being done to restrict his political activity and neutralize him politically — but that will not succeed.

As for the possibility of aggravating the charges, we expect anything. We might walk out of here and be summoned to the Adjara Prosecutor’s Office, where they could accuse him in the Dito Samkharadze assault case as well. This is a clown show — ‘justice in the name of Ivanishvili.’ Giorgi Gakharia does not admit guilt. This has nothing to do with a genuine legal process. There are no factual or legal grounds or evidence that would confirm his guilt.

If the court wants to hear Giorgi Gakharia remotely, why not? Of course, he’s willing to participate if the court allows it — he’ll join remotely. What’s happening now is persecution. Gakharia will not appear under Ivanishvili’s jurisdiction,” Sichinava said.

For reference, the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has launched criminal prosecution against former Prime Minister and For Georgia leader Giorgi Gakharia.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the case concerns the June 20–21, 2019 protests and the Chorchana episode — specifically, the organization of intentional infliction of serious bodily harm to more than two individuals during the protest near the Parliament building, and the abuse of official power by a state political official.

According to the Prosecutor General, Gakharia has been charged under Article 25 with subparagraph “m” of Part 3 of Article 117, and Part 2 of Article 333 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 13 years in prison.