Tbilisi City Court says trials of detained protesters held amid discreditation, disinformation, sharp critisism
Tbilisi City Court said that despite the pressure and interference into the process, the citizens' right to freedom of speech and expression has been fully ensured during the trials.
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Tbilisi City Court, which has been considering the violations of 37 protesters detained during the recent rally dispersal at parliament of Georgia, said earlier today that “due to high public interest”, the court hearings have been open and transparent.
It said that despite the pressure and interference into the process, the citizens' right to freedom of speech and expression has been fully ensured during the trials.
The parliament building in Tbilisi has been blocked earlier this week, as demonstrators protested the rejection of a ruling Georgian Dream party proposed election bill. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
In a statement released in response to local NGOs, who accused judge Valeriane Pilishvili of partiality and the trial - politicised, Tbilisi City Court said that the recent trials have been held under deliberate discreditation from the detainees and their supporters, disinformation campaign and sharp criticism.
The Court also explained that the judge is “independent” in his decisions and obeys “only to constitution and law”.
Any influence on a judge or interference into his decision-making is prohibited and punishable”, the statement reads.
Tbilisi City Court also informed that only law enforcers and representatives of Public Defender's office have the right to visit those already sent to detention.
The trials of 12 of a total of 37 detained demonstrators were held on Wednesday, while the trial of the remaining 25 has been postponed for a while.