Opposition UNM accuses Georgian government of jailing activist on political orders

Tina Bokuchava, Chair of the United National Movement opposition party, on Tuesday accused the government of jailing pro-European activist Anatoli Gigauri on political grounds, calling him a “political prisoner” who will continue to fight against the ruling authorities.

Speaking after a Tbilisi court sentenced Gigauri to two years in prison for slapping a police officer, Bokuchava claimed the verdict was “a political order” from billionaire and former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom she described as the country’s de facto ruler.

Bokuchava said Judge Jvibe Nachkebia acted as a “servant” of the ruling party in handing down the sentence, and alleged that Gigauri was tortured and beaten by patrol officer Vakhtang Gabunia while in handcuffs, causing a concussion. She also accused the authorities of presenting Gabunia as a false witness.

“The regime wants to silence and intimidate people using a justice system turned into a bastion of injustice, but neither Anatoli Gigauri, nor Mzia Amaglobeli, nor any other political prisoner will serve the political sentence imposed by the system,” she said, referring to the media manager recently jailed in a similar case.

The ruling Georgian Dream party has previously denied accusations of politically motivated prosecutions, saying law enforcement acted independently and in accordance with the law.