31 October 2009, 11:00
Defence of Tsotne Gamsakhurdia appeals against his pre-trail custody
Ketevan Bekauri, advocate of Tsotne Gamsakhurdia, son of the first president of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia, has appealed against the two-month pre-trial custody of her trial.
Tsotne Gamsakhurdia is accused of murder attempt and illegal purchase, storage and bearing of firearms. On October 30, the Tbilisi City Court ruled to put him in custody for two months before trial.
Tsotne was detained on October 27 in Tbilisi on suspicion of inflicting a gunshot wound to citizen David Badzhelidze, who was then brought to Republic's Hospital. Under the version of the prosecution, Gamsakhurdia, who earlier had a quarrel with Badzhelidze, rushed into his house and shot him in the stomach.
The advocate said that her client rejected the charge and the fact that he had a fight with Badzhelidze. Ms Bekauri has stated that charges against Tsotne Gamsakhurdia were forged.
Clara Shukvani, an active supporter of the first president of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia, has stated, in her turn, that she will start her hunger strike in support of Tsotne Gamsakhurdia. She plans to do it in the yard of the Ombudsman's office, since "the life of Tsotne Gamsakhurdia is in danger", the IA "Regnum" reports.
