On December 30, a court hearing was held in the case of Levan Khabeishvili, one of the leaders of the United National Movement.

According to Khabeishvili, it is important for him that the consideration of his case be completed quickly and that the judge deliver a decision in the near future.

Khabeishvili said that despite having no dispute with the evidence presented against him, which consists of his public statements, the proceedings are still being delayed.

He stated that at today’s hearing he expected the prosecution to present employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Special Tasks Department as witnesses. According to the prosecution, these officers felt “uncomfortable” because of Khabeishvili’s statements. Khabeishvili said he was motivated to ask the Special Tasks Department officers how exactly they felt uncomfortable.

However, according to the prosecutor, bringing the Special Tasks Department employees to today’s hearing could have been associated with certain difficulties.

“It is important that court proceedings be conducted quickly and that justice be delivered promptly. I have nothing to hide. I have no problem with a simple issue. There are two sides, the prosecutor and the defendant. The prosecutor is not accusing me of secretly doing something and then having to confess whether I did something covertly or committed a crime. He is not accusing me of secretly doing anything at all. The court proceedings were delayed for a month and a half because, apparently, they needed to confirm that when I was on air, it was actually me. Because of this, I spent an additional month and a half in a cell. Even now, I am asking the court to move to the pretrial hearing as soon as possible. Instead, the prosecutor says it needs to be postponed again. For me, it is important that a decision be made soon.

I have no issue with disputing the evidence. My television statements are mine. The fact that we are even discussing public political statements here is a great tragedy. If you were accusing me of secretly doing something, then I would say yes or no. But you are not accusing me of secretly doing anything. What I said on television was known not only to you, but to all of Georgia. I did not hide it. When I made political statements, I did not do so secretly. You are also not accusing me of secretly giving something to someone somewhere. That is why it is truly very important that a decision be reached quickly,” Khabeishvili said.

According to Levan Khabeishvili, it is important for him that the court determine in a timely manner whether making a public statement as a politician constitutes a crime.

“I know exactly that I am right and that I cannot be convicted, but even if it were otherwise, if someone is going to say that this is how it should be, I want justice to be established soon. In the end, let us all find out whether public speech is a crime or not. It is interesting for me as well. If you tell me that I should not have said this and that it is a crime, here I am. I would hypothetically stop my activities entirely and would know that in this country even speaking is not allowed. If that is what you are trying to legalize, I did not know until now that speaking was a crime. I did not know this because I was arrested in September for statements I started making on June 11. June, July, August, what were you waiting for? I was motivated to ask how exactly the Special Tasks Department officers felt uncomfortable,” Levan Khabeishvili said.

Levan Khabeishvili, Chairman of the Political Council of the United National Movement, was arrested on September 11. He has been charged under two articles of the Criminal Code: Article 339, bribery, and Article 317, public calls to overthrow the government.

The State Security Service accuses him of promising bribes to employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Special Tasks Department during his public speeches. The accusation refers to a statement in which Khabeishvili addressed Special Tasks Department officers and said that “everyone who does not take part in dispersing the people should receive 200,000 dollars as a reward.”

By decision of the State Security Service, Levan Khabeishvili, who is currently in detention, has had his rights to visits, correspondence, and telephone communication restricted since September 15.

An investigator from the State Security Service states that, in the interests of administering justice, it is advisable to restrict Levan Khabeishvili’s use of the above-mentioned rights.