“Tell Mdinaradze I regret not hitting him harder and not adding Kobakhidze on top of him while I was in parliament; I will definitely fix it,” said detained politician Aleko Elisashvili, one of the leaders of “Strong Georgia - Lelo,” during a court hearing on charges of attempted terrorist act.

After a prosecution witness from the bailiff service testified in court, Elisashvili requested permission to make a statement, but was not allowed to do so.

He made the remarks while being escorted out of the courtroom by security officers.

“I am tormented by regret, I regret it deeply, but I will definitely fix it. Mr. Giorgi [judge], what scared you so much that this is the fourth hearing and you do not allow me to speak, but I will definitely speak.

Tell Mdinaradze that I have terrible regret that I did not punch that scoundrel harder in the ear. And tell that bailiff boy that it is not appropriate to lie. I did not take out a gun and chase anyone,” Elisashvili said.

For context, Aleko Elisashvili has been charged under Article 19-323(1) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns the attempted commission of a terrorist act. The offense carries a sentence of 10 to 15 years of imprisonment.

According to the investigation, masked Aleko Elisashvili arrived at the Tbilisi City Court building around 04:00 on November 29, armed with a firearm, ammunition, and items necessary for carrying out a terrorist act. He broke the glass of the court’s registry entrance using a hammer and entered the interior of the building. Prosecutors say he poured a large amount of flammable liquid on items and documents inside and attempted to set them on fire.

The investigation also alleges that he physically assaulted and beat a bailiff on site.

Separately, Elisashvili is also charged in another case involving the political persecution of one of the founders of Georgian Dream, Ali Babayev. In that case, he was released on bail of 5,000 GEL upon the prosecution’s motion. The charge in that case is under Article 156(2)(a) of the Criminal Code, which concerns persecution on political grounds involving violence, carrying a sentence of up to three years in prison.