Giorgi Shanidze, who was arrested for damaging a surveillance camera at the Parliament during a protest against the Russian Law, was sentenced to four years in prison. Tbilisi City Court Judge Mikheil Jinjolia announced the verdict today, September 16.
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Giorgi Shanidze was arrested on May 8, under the first part of Article 187 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the damage or destruction of someone else’s property causing significant harm. Following his arrest, the prosecutor's office charged Shanidze under the second part of Article 265 of the Criminal Code for the illegal growing and cultivation of cannabis - a more serious crime punishable by four to seven years of imprisonment.
“I still cannot consider myself a criminal. As for these actions, I believe I was doing something necessary for my country, which is why I committed what might be termed a crime, not out of a desire to damage the camera or anything, as the prosecutor claims. Furthermore, I think the approach to this article has changed significantly. I know personally of people who have been released on parole for more serious offenses.
If it weren’t for the political nature of this lawsuit, I wouldn’t have been caught, and I would be free. I believe you could use the discretion provided by Article 50 to release me with a suspended sentence. Imprisonment is not appropriate for me,” Shanidze told the judge.
Supporters of Giorgi Shanidze believe he has been punished as an example. Anna Dolidze, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia coalition, asserted that Shanidze is a political prisoner of the "Russian government."
“He has shown heroism by saving lives in Ukraine. He saved people and documented the events on Zmiinyi Island. Today’s trial is a direct order from the Georgian Dream to punish those who inconvenience the Russian authorities,” Dolidze said.
From April to June, about two hundred participants in protests against the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents were administratively detained. The prosecutor's office charged nine individuals with assaulting a police officer and damaging property. Trials for other cases are still ongoing.
It should be noted that representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs severely beat protesting MPs Aleko Elisashvili and Levan Khabeishvili, as well as civil activist Davit Katsarava and others. No one has been held accountable for these acts of violence.
