“My innocence is clear, and this case will definitely go to the Strasbourg Court,” said Zviad Tsetskhladze, convicted in the case of the November-December 2024 protests, during his closing statement at the Court of Appeals.

“The prosecution accuses me of organizing the protest from November 28 to December 3. However, in the case file there are injured persons who received injuries between November 28 and November 29. They claimed that some group was organized through my video. But I was at the protest for the first time on November 30. I was beaten so badly that I even lost my shoes. I went to the university and recorded a video.

The prosecution’s main piece of evidence against me has no sound. Later, a witness who came for questioning brought this video on a memory card, but we do not know its origin.

My arrest took place on December 4 near the university. During a personal search, nothing was found, after which I was placed in a car, where I remained for several hours. The witness claimed I was not arrested but merely ‘stopped,’ although I had no freedom of movement.

During the search of my home, flammable substances were planted. My lawyer was not allowed to be present. I did not sign the search protocol.

In my case, not only was the presumption of innocence violated - it was sold out. Various politicians went on air and called us criminals. Regarding Mzia Amaghlobeli, a person holding the office of Prime Minister said she had received an order to hit a police officer. ‘Rustavi 2’ dedicated an entire segment to how I allegedly planned a terrorist act. This is a deliberate attempt to damage my image.

My innocence is clear, and this case will definitely go to the Strasbourg Court. My goal as an activist is not destabilization, but strengthening state institutions. As a future lawyer, I want the judiciary to be the strongest institution.

It is very important how society views the court. Society looks at the judiciary with skepticism. The supremacy of justice depends on your decision,” Tsetskhladze stated.