“Ask our new Patriarch why he ignores everything that is happening in this country? So many people are in prison, or people are being tortured - doesn’t it concern him? Are we in Mozambique?” - this is what the politician Aleko Elisashvili, detained on charges of attempting to commit a terrorist act and one of the leaders of “Strong Georgia - Lelo,” said while being taken out of the courtroom.

He was removed from the courtroom after Judge Giorgi Gelashvili repeatedly issued warnings.

“I have already tolerated too much from my side! For contempt of court and insulting the court, Aleko Elisashvili has been removed,” Gelashvili said.

Before that, Elisashvili was questioning an expert witness.

“Did you have any involvement, as an expert, in the Borjomi fire, the burning of ‘Children’s World’?” he asked the witness, who replied in the negative.

While asking his next question, the judge told him to ask a specific question.

“You don’t let me speak, I am forming my thought - how can I ask a question if I cannot explain the context? Please don’t interrupt me,” Elisashvili responded to the judge, after which he was removed from the courtroom.

His lawyer asked the judge why Elisashvili was expelled.

“Because he insulted the court. I have not tolerated this from any defendant,” Judge Gelashvili said, after which the lawyer asked another question.

“So he is being removed for saying ‘please don’t interrupt me’?” the lawyer asked. The judge responded that it was “not only for that.”

Earlier, after another warning, Elisashvili told the judge: “My heart almost stopped, I was so scared.”

This was followed by a remark from the lawyer, to which Gelashvili responded that he was “not intimidating anyone” and ordered order in the courtroom, adding that this was the final warning.

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

He is also charged in another episode under Article 19-323(1), which refers to a terrorist act - meaning an explosion, arson, attack on a person, use of weapons, or other actions committed with a terrorist purpose that create a risk of death, significant property damage, or other serious consequences.

This offense also carries a penalty of 10 to 15 years of imprisonment.