The Tbilisi City Court left Batumi flag bearer Zurab Chavchanidze in pretrial detention today, 27 November.
Chavchanidze is on a hunger strike in protest.
Judge Valerian Bugianishvili also left 13 other defendants in detention in today’s hearing concerning the “October 4 case”:
Vladimer Gvelesiani, Sergo Megrelishvili, Giorgi Rurua, Amiran Dolishvili, Anton Vardanidze, Giorgi Korkia, Aleksandre Chilachava, Genadi Kupreishvili, Lasha Ivanidze, Levan Jiqia, Sulkhan Tugushi, Khvicha Gogokhia, and Ramaz Mamuladze.
The Georgian Dream–led Prosecutor’s Office charges Zurab Chavchanidze under Article 19-222 (2-a) of the Criminal Code – attempted seizure of a strategic and critically important facility – and Article 225 (2) – participation in group violence. These charges carry a sentence of up to six years in prison.
Chavchanidze categorically denies the accusations. According to his lawyer, Nino Lominadze, the prosecution has not presented a single piece of evidence proving that Chavchanidze committed any crime.
During today’s hearing, when the judge asked him, “Where do you live?”, Chavchanidze replied: “Nowhere,” he laughed. “I’m originally from Sokhumi and currently living in someone else’s home. I am registered in Batumi.”
When asked about his occupation, he answered: “I divide my work into three categories: forced, by calling, and by diploma.” The judge cut him off and asked him to state his actual workplace. “I work in a security service,” Chavchanidze responded.