Defence lawyer: no evidence of crime against opposition leader Manjgaladze

There are no signs of criminal wrongdoing in the case of opposition politician Paata Manjgaladze, his lawyer Beka Basilaia said on Wednesday.

The lawyer claimed the fact that Manjgaladze was named as a member of a commission or committee by Paata Burchuladze, another detained opposition member, “cannot in itself form the basis of any criminal allegation”.

He described the events of 4 October - when crowds gathered on Freedom Square in an attempt to what they called to peacefully change the Georgian Dream government, Orbeliani Square and Rustaveli Avenue - as an expression of “the spirit and anger of the Georgian people” in response to the country’s political situation, particularly in recent years.

“As for Paata Manjgaladze, even if we were to accept the prosecution’s version entirely, there are no elements of a crime in his actions. There is nothing that would amount to criminal conduct,” Basilaia said.

Tbilisi City Court is currently hearing the case against Manjgaladze, Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Irakli Beridze and five others detained over the 4 October events. They are charged with two offences - participating in group violence and attempting, as a group, to seize strategic or otherwise significant facilities.

According to the Interior Ministry, 35 people have been detained in connection with the 4 October events - 30 participants of the protest and five members of the National Assembly movement - Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Lasha Beridze, Paata Manjgaladze and Irakli Nadiradze.