Politician Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the party “Droa,” who was charged with damaging an election banner of Kakha Kaladze, has been found guilty by the court.

The decision was made by Tbilisi City Court judge Giorgi Arevadze.

According to the verdict, Elene Khoshtaria was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison. Accordingly, she will leave the penitentiary institution in one year.

Regarding the physical evidence, Judge Giorgi Arevadze stated that “the marker should be destroyed, and the banner should be returned to its lawful owner.”

At today’s hearing, Khoshtaria was expected to deliver her final statement; however, she did not attend the announcement of the verdict, as well as previous hearings.

According to a report from the penitentiary institution read out by the judge, Khoshtaria “does not recognize any branch of government, including the court,” which is why she did not appear at the hearing.

For reference, law enforcement officers detained Elene Khoshtaria on September 15 of last year.

She was charged under Part 1 of Article 187 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns damage to another person’s property resulting in significant harm. The offense предусматривает penalties including a fine, house arrest, or imprisonment from one to five years.

As a preventive measure in this case, Khoshtaria had been assigned bail set at 5,000 GEL, which she refused to pay, and she remained in custody until the verdict was announced.

On September 14, near Kakha Kaladze’s campaign headquarters, Khoshtaria wrote “Russian Dream” on his campaign banner. She herself published a video of the act on social media, stating that she was expressing solidarity with Megi Diasamidze, who had been detained for a similar act involving damage to Kaladze’s campaign banner and was later released on bail.