Aleksandre Gogoladze, one of the defendants in the case related to the events that unfolded near the Atoneli Palace on October 4, requested the recusal of the case prosecutor, Tamar Bezhuashvili. The request was not granted by Judge Giorgi Gelashvili.

The defendant cited the prosecutor’s gender as the reason for requesting her recusal.

“I don’t want a woman to be my prosecutor - if possible, I don’t want it to be a woman. I apologize to you [to the prosecutor] here. You should teach your children and grandchildren kindness, many things I dream of. It would be better, my child, if you were not the prosecutor, especially in a case like this,” Gogoladze said.

The judge explained to him that the grounds for recusal of a prosecutor or, more generally, of a party to the proceedings are clearly defined by law.

“It would be considered discrimination to claim that the interests of a specific person or the state should be represented by a woman or a man,” Judge Giorgi Gelashvili stated.

Following this, another defendant, Konstantine Kokaia, said that they want television crews to attend the hearing so that people can see “what bad people” they are.

In response, the judge told him that if they wish the proceedings to be filmed, the lawyers must apply to the High Council of Justice.

For reference, in connection with the events of October 4, the following individuals were detained: Gocha Katashvili, Sulkhan Abralava, Konstantine Kokaia, Davit Zhghenti, Kakhaber Mzhavanadze, Aleksandre Gogoladze, Davit Sturua, Eva Shashiashvili, Zakro Albutashvili, Genadi Kelikhashvili, Dato Ghtskaia, Ramaz Jorbenadze, Jandri Tirqia, Giorgi Chakhunashvili, and Ia Darakhvelidze.

They have been charged under Article 19-222, Part 2, Subparagraph “a” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns an attempt to seize and block strategic and especially important facilities committed by a group. They have also been charged under Article 225, Part 2 of the Criminal Code, which relates to participation in group violence.

Ia Darakhvelidze, Giorgi Chakhunashvili, and Eva Shashiashvili are currently free on bail.