ALDE condemns sentence against opposition leader Khoshtaria, calls for release

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) has condemned the one-and-a-half-year prison sentence handed to Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the Droa party, calling for her immediate release.

In a statement, ALDE described the sentence as “wholly disproportionate” to the offence, which it said amounted to an expression of free speech and a pro-European stance.

The group also called for “all politically motivated charges” to be dropped against Khoshtaria and other detained opposition figures. It further urged the imposition of additional targeted sanctions.

“Georgians, you are not alone,” the statement added, expressing support for “democratic opposition leaders and activists” in the country.

Khoshtaria, a member of the Coalition for Change, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison for damaging an election banner belonging to Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze. She has already spent six months in detention and is expected to be released in approximately one year.