Guilty verdict against opposition leader Khabeishvili will overturn legal standards, lawyer

Lawyer Giorgi Kondakhishvili has said that a guilty verdict against opposition politician Levan Khabeishvili would amount to overturning both Georgia’s Criminal Code and established judicial practice.

Speaking ahead of the court hearing on Friday, Kondakhishvili said the parties would deliver their closing arguments, after which Khabeishvili would address the court with a final statement before the verdict is announced.

The lawyer said the political context surrounding the case made the outcome difficult to predict, but expressed hope that what he described as “legal absurdities” would come to an end.

Kondakhishvili argued that prosecutors had failed to present sufficient evidence, claiming that around 80% of the evidence initially submitted by the prosecution had later been withdrawn. He said the case now largely relied on the testimony of a single witness and Khabeishvili’s public statements.

“If the court delivers a guilty verdict today, it would overturn not only the Criminal Code but also judicial practice,” Kondakhishvili said.

Khabeishvili was arrested on 11 September 2025. He was charged under Article 339, Part Two of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concerns promising or offering a bribe to a public official in exchange for illegal actions.

He also faces charges under Article 317 of the Criminal Code, which relates to public calls for the overthrow of state authority.