UNM leader Bokuchava: ‘no politically independent judges remain in Georgia’

The chair of the United National Movement (UNM), Tina Bokuchava, on Tuesday said that no judge in Georgia could make an independent or fair decision in political cases, accusing the judiciary of serving the government’s political agenda.

“No person called a judge, in whose hands any political case ends up, can make an independent, conscientious decision, because they execute political orders from the regime,” Bokuchava claimed.

She also accused the Georgian government of holding “more political prisoners per capita than Russia” and said that this marked “a new record” set by Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom she called “the regime’s patron.”

“There is no longer any political space or democratic process in the country. That’s why our international partners no longer call on the opposition to participate in elections — because democracy no longer exists in Georgia,” she said.

Bokuchava stressed that street protest and free media remained the only lifelines for Georgia’s democratic future, calling for greater organization within the protest movement centered on Rustaveli Avenue.

Her comments came as Tbilisi City Court held a hearing on pre-trial measures against the leaders of the Rustaveli Avenue Movement — Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze - who were detained during recent demonstrations on October 4.