5-year trials end, court sentences five former officials in high-profile murder case

Tbilisi City Court has delivered a guilty verdict against five former police officials of the United National Movement government for the high profile murder case of 19-year-old Amiran (Buta)  Robakidze in 2004.

Four former officials, who do not admit to the crime, have been sent to prison for several years for exceeding of official powers, while one, the former head of the Criminal Police, Zaza Bakradze, who admitted to the crime this year, was offered a plea bargain and was sentenced to four years and six months of parole and a 5,000 GEL fine.

The former police officials who have been sent to prison for five years and three months are Guram Donadze, Irakli Pirtskhalava, David Iashvili and Zura Mikadze.

Buta Robakidze’s mother Ia Metreveli stated that the “restoration of justice is launching in Georgia from today.”

She applauded the verdict and stated that the judge sentenced the individuals with maximal prison terms for exceeding of official powers. However, as certain articles were amnestied in 2013, the offenders will have to spend a bit more than five years in prison.

I am satisfied anyway as the people must have been held accountable for their offences,” Metreveli said.

On the night of 23 November, Saint George’s Day, police stopped a vehicle with Robakidze and four others inside.

Robakidze was shot and later died, while the other four survived but were charged with illegal possession of a weapon and ammunition. The young men claimed the weapon had been placed in their car by police after they discovered Robakidze had died.

Zaza Bakradze admitted the planting of the weapon by police to cover the murder.