19 February 2010, 23:40
Tbilisi Court starts considering Tsotne Gamsakhurdia's case
On Thursday, February 18, the Tbilisi City Court started considering the case of the son of the ex-president of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia - Tsotne, accused of an attempt of deliberate murder.
As reported by Keti Bekauri, Tsotne's advocate, the litigation started with presentation by the prosecution party of new materials, in particular secretly made video and audio records. Tsotne Gamsakhurdia was absent at the session.
"An hour was given for acquaintance with the materials, but the procedure actually took three hours. As a result, the next session was appointed on February 19," said Ms Bekauri, having noted that for such short term it is impossible to properly study the materials; moreover, Tsotne will not be able to do it.
"It was done deliberately, in order not to let Tsotne get acquainted with the new materials and proofs. And in general, they want to hold the trial at his absence," said Keti Bekauri.
She has added that she tried to find out, together with Tsotne's mother Manana, "the real reasons of Tsotne's absence in the courtroom." According to her story, a letter of the prison administration was presented to the court running that Gamsakhurdia refused to be present at the trial. The lawyer believes that it was a lie, as Gamsakhurdia himself wrote nothing; she does not exclude that the state of health of her client, who is on hunger strike for a long time, had sharply worsened.
Ms Bekauri plans to lodge a petition on challenging the public prosecutor in Gamsakhurdia's case, since, according to her story, there are plenty violations of the law in this case.
