"Even if the attempted terrorist act by Aleko Elisashvili had been proven, a 13-year sentence is far too severe. Thirteen years is the kind of punishment that could have been imposed in the case of a completed terrorist attack," Giorgi Rekhviashvili, Aleko Elisashvili’s lawyer, said to the media.

The lawyer also emphasized that the case contains no direct or indirect evidence proving that Elisashvili attempted to commit a terrorist act.

According to Rekhviashvili, the judge stated in the operative part of the verdict that Elisashvili was sentenced to 13 years in prison because he had not shown remorse for his actions.

"As expected, Aleko Elisashvili was found guilty. He was sentenced to 13 years. Of course, the decision is unsubstantiated. The judge did not take into account the evidence presented by the defense, which directly indicated that the fire in question could not have caused damage amounting to 25 million [GEL].

I am referring specifically to the conclusion of the Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau, which the prosecution avoided and did not request, because it represented a hypothetical issue, a doubt, and an assumption.

In general, according to the law, any doubt existing in a case should be resolved in favor of the defendant. Unfortunately, the court applied the most severe qualification. The article provided for imprisonment from 10 to 15 years, and he was sentenced to 13 years," Rekhviashvili said.

According to the lawyer, the court’s decision will be appealed through the appellate procedure, and after exhausting all domestic legal avenues, the defense plans to apply to the European Court of Human Rights.

The Tbilisi City Court found Aleko Elisashvili guilty of attempted terrorism. Judge Giorgi Gelashvili sentenced him to 13 years in prison.