On November 19, the trial of three activists - Isako Devidze, Irakli Andghuladze, and Davit Tsotsoria - arrested during the dispersal of the rally on Melikishvili Avenue, was held at Tbilisi City Court. The judges found all three guilty of petty hooliganism and disobedience to the police.
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As per the decision of Judges Koba Chagunava and Nino Enukidze, Davit Tsotsoria and Isako Devidze were sentenced to 8 days of administrative detention. Lawyers for the detainees stated that the judges relied solely on the testimony of employees from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
"Two police witnesses who appeared at the trial gave conflicting testimony. When a judge decides to impose administrative detention, I believe the evidence should meet a high standard, almost equal to that of criminal law. A decision based on such vague answers feels unjust to me. I am ashamed that the court makes decisions solely based on the testimony of police officers," said Nestan Londaridze, one of the detainees’ lawyers.
The case of the third detainee, Irakli Andghuladze, was presided over by Judge Lela Tsagareishvili, who ordered him to pay a fine of 2700 GEL.
"The judges, Tsagareishvili and Chagunava, did not allow us to review the case materials, gather evidence, or present our defense strategy as we deemed necessary. They refused to postpone the proceedings for a reasonable period and made decisions within a short timeframe based solely on the testimony of masked police witnesses representing the Ministry of Internal Affairs. No objective or neutral evidence was presented," noted lawyer Juba Katamadze.
During the crackdown on the rally at dawn on November 19, the police administratively arrested 16 people, three of whom were released later that day. Some detainees, including Coalition for Change members Saba Shvitaridze and Manuchar Chachanidze, spent 48 hours in a temporary detention facility. Their trials have not yet been scheduled.
Most of the detainees report being subjected to physical abuse and verbal insults by the police.
