Tbilisi City Court will deliberate today on the case of politician Aleko Elisashvili — one of the leaders of “Lelo – Strong Georgia” — who was arrested on charges of attempting to commit a terrorist act.

The hearing will take place at Tbilisi City Court at 13:00. The presiding judge is Lela Maridashvili.

During the session, the court will consider the preventive measure to be imposed on the detained politician. The Prosecutor’s Office is requesting the strictest measure — pre-trial detention.

For reference, Aleko Elisashvili has been charged under Article 19-323, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to attempted commission of a terrorist act. The offense is punishable by 10 to 15 years of imprisonment.

According to the investigation, on 29 November, at around 04:00, a masked Aleko Elisashvili approached the Tbilisi City Court building armed with a firearm, ammunition and items necessary for carrying out a terrorist act. He used a hammer to smash the exterior window of the court chancellery and entered the interior space of the building.

The Prosecutor’s Office reports that Elisashvili poured a large amount of flammable substance on the items and documentation located in the area and attempted to start a fire.

According to the investigation, the politician also attacked and beat one of the court bailiffs.

It should be noted that Elisashvili is charged in another case as well — the political persecution of Ali Babaev, one of the founders of the party “Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia.”

In that case, he was released on 5,000 GEL bail based on the Prosecutor’s Office’s motion. Elisashvili has been charged under Article 156, Part 2, Subparagraph “a” of the Criminal Code of Georgia — persecution of an individual in connection with political activities, committed through violence. The offense is punishable by up to three years of imprisonment.