Georgian opposition politician Elisashvili sentenced to 13 years

A Georgian court has found opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili guilty of attempting to commit a terrorist act and sentenced him to 13 years in prison on Friday.

Judge Giorgi Gelashvili handed down the sentence to Elisashvili, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia - Lelo political alliance.

The case concerns an incident at the Tbilisi City Court chancellery building, where court security officers stopped Elisashvili’s actions before he was arrested at the scene by police.

Elisashvili was charged under Article 19-323, Part 1 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which covers an attempted terrorist act and carries a prison sentence of between 10 and 15 years.

He has also been charged in a separate episode under Article 323, Part 1 of the Criminal Code, which covers terrorist acts involving actions such as explosions, arson, attacks on people or the use of weapons committed for terrorist purposes and creating a risk of death, significant property damage or other serious consequences.

The separate charge also carries a prison sentence of between 10 and 15 years.

Elisashvili told the court that he regretted trying to bring political culture to parliament and not physically confronting Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and now Vice PM Mamuka Mdinaradze every day.

“When I entered parliament, I wanted to bring political culture and speak without insults for the first three years. Now I regret not beating Papuashvili and Mdinaradze every day,” Elisashvili said during a court hearing.

Responding to criticism of his conduct, Elisashvili said people should first look at how protesters had been treated before condemning his actions.

“I heard on television that my actions were inappropriate for a politician. They should go back and see what they were doing to people and then blame me,” he said.

Elisashvili said he had a clear conscience before the country and had never looted Georgia or accumulated illicit wealth.

“The main thing for me is that my father and my children are proud of me,” he said.

Elisashvili also praised members of the For Georgia party for their conduct, describing both its male and female members as “very brave”.