The Telavi District Court in Sagarejo sentenced Mamuka Shakarashvili, an employee of the cleaning service, to pretrial detention on charges of illegal interference and violence against journalists while conducting their professional duties. Judge Veriko Zatiashvili satisfied the prosecution’s request.
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At today’s trial, defendant Shakarishvili did not admit guilt and claimed that the journalists provoked him. He appealed to the judge to take his family situation into account and not to apply the punitive measure.
“Why would I attack journalists unless they left me no choice? I am not a danger to society. I have two children and no wife, I am the sole provider for the children, my mother is a pensioner, and she is suffering from diabetes. I ask the court to take these circumstances into account,” said Mamuka Shakarishvili.
According to Prosecutor Aleksandre Chkhaidze, releasing the accused risks a repeat crime, destruction of evidence, and witness manipulation.
“We are working off of the fact that according to case materials, activities of journalists are unacceptable to the defendant, therefore, he may carry out violent acts against journalists at any time in the future. He himself confirmed this when he stated that the journalists provoked him and made him abuse them. The investigation is ongoing. There are still witnesses to be questioned, and further examinations may be necessary. It is therefore not ruled out that more serious charges be brought against him,” the prosecution pointed out.
The next trial in the case will be held on September 1.
On July 6, in Sagarejo, where the chairman of the opposition party National Movement, Levan Khabeishvili, had planned a meeting with pensioners, members of the council, activists, and city hall employees from Georgian Dream gathered in an organized manner. They physically assaulted not only the members of the National Movement but also the journalists who came to cover the meeting. They threw stones and damaged the cameras. Only the journalist from Imedi TV was spared from violence and insults. Police arrived at the scene only after the physical altercation was over.
Mamuka Shakarashvili, an employee of the budgetary organization established by the Sagarejo Municipal Hall, was arrested by the Special Investigation Service on July 14. According to the investigation service, it was determined that Shakarashvili physically assaulted Sulkhan Chkhadua, operator of TV Formula, while filming a report, as well as Rustavi 2 journalist Natia Tsitelauri, and Mtavari Channel journalist Ia Guliashvili, in order to interfere with their professional activities, and prevented them from filming a report by force.
Investigation into Shakarashvili started under Articles 126 and 154, Parts 1 of the Criminal Code, which provide for the lightest punishment - a fine or community service for a period of one hundred and twenty to one hundred and eighty hours or house arrest for a period of six months to one year or imprisonment for a period of up to a year, with or without restrictions on the rights related to weapons.
Georgian News inquired with the investigative service as to why the investigation is not being carried out under the 2nd parts of Articles 126 and 154 of the Criminal Code, considering that on July 6, in Sagarejo, more than two journalists were attacked by groups while performing their professional duties, for which the punishment is more severe. The agency did not give an explanation.
