Gross violation of the right to a fair trial - report by the Human Rights Center

The Human Rights Center will presented an interim report on monitoring public events. The report covers the cases of political prisoners Giorgi Rurua, Gigi Ugulava and Irakli Okruashvili. It also provides a legal assessment of the protest rallies and trials of those detained during the protests.

The non-governmental organization claims that there are a number of shortcomings in the investigation process and trials, which is a gross violation of the right to a fair trial.

The purpose of the document is to identify specific violations that are identified in the course of court proceedings... Violations, of course, should not be ignored, because they will be important in the direction of the right to a fair trial," said Giorgi Kakubava, lawyer of the Human Rights Center.

We would like to remind that after numerous appeals from the Western partners, President Zurabishvili pardoned the detained opposition leaders Gigi Ugulava and Irakli Okruashvili on May 15, 2020.

The founder of "Mtavari Channel" Giorgi Rurua was detained on November 18, 2019. The investigation accused him of illegal acquisition and possession of firearms, but no evidence in the case confirmed the version of the prosecutor's office. Rurua's defence repeatedly requested his release during several months of court proceedings, although the court did not make this decision.

International partners viewed Giorgi Rurua's arrest as politically motivated and called on the Georgian authorities to release him and end his political persecution.

Despite the pardon of two political prisoners, on July 31 the President said said he would not pardon Giorgi Rurua and no one would be able to influence her decision.