“Bail could be applied to others, except for me. I alone was kept in detention, and I don’t even have the money to be released - a lien of 9,000 GEL was sent to me in prison. This means my lineage must be wiped out,” Levan Khabeishvili, Chairman of the Political Council of the United National Movement, stated during a court hearing.

Khabeishvili expressed dissatisfaction that “in reality, his court session is not taking place” and claimed that this is being done deliberately. He addressed the prosecutor, requesting that witnesses be brought to court promptly and face him.

“Even today, the process underway is not my trial. Neither the previous session nor the one before that was my court session. In reality, the session on December 30 took place but didn’t take place - it was not my trial. Regarding my case, they accuse Murtaz of some absurdity… this is happening intentionally. I am convinced that even the judge understands that my trial would last a maximum of 3-4 hours, during which the witnesses appointed by the prosecution would be questioned. These witnesses were notified by the State Security Service, claiming they were insulted by me. From this group, three people were summoned,” Khabeishvili said.

He added that he does not deny the statements he made in television appearances and, in this context, believes that investigation into those statements is unnecessary. Khabeishvili emphasized that he is a politician making political statements.

“My court session is not taking place. I come because I miss my loved ones. I come, I go. I come, I go. And I want these three people to be brought in, so that when the judge begins at 10:00, the session ends at 15:00. I really want these people to come and look me in the eyes, face the court. ‘They felt insulted’ - it’s not insult, my facial bones were broken, my skull crushed, and yet they claim to be the insulted ones. People, what is unclear? I demand my court session!

Yesterday, I saw that activist accounts were hit with liens. A lien was imposed on me in prison - administratively, 9,000 GEL was sent to prison because apparently Tsulukiani didn’t like something. First, they detained me altogether, no chance for a trial, no witnesses brought, half a year in prison, no phone, no children, no correspondence, nothing - and a lien of 9,000 GEL was sent in prison. This is intended to wipe out my lineage. Some people even have a salary of 18,000 GEL, and excuse me!” Khabeishvili said.

During the hearing, prosecutor Beka Khunashvili explained that there are two defendants in the case, and after one defendant’s facts are examined, the trial will proceed to the other defendant.

“At the UNM assembly, I feel like you’ve been speaking for 15 minutes. There are two defendants in the case [Khabeishvili and Murtaz Zodelava]. One fact will be examined, then we will move on to the second. When the time comes to examine your evidence… logically, this is how we proceed. Now, we have approximately 3-4 witnesses left to examine,” Beka Khunashvili stated.