Intermediate Report Research of Pre-election Period - The Human ...

His wife, human rights defender Nina Khatiskatsi told Interpresnews that court hearing
lasted 2 hours and Judge David Kekenadze finished it without questioning witnesses and
discussing the solicitations of the defense side.
Khatiskatsi says her husband was accused of verbal assault of the CEC representative but
Zhorzholiani denies the allegation. “Therefore we believe that the judgment of the Zugidi
City Court is politically grounded. We will appeal it at the Appeal Court tomorrow,”
Khatiskatsi said.
Law enforcement officers arrested Kakha Zhorzholiani on September 23. As for motive of his
detention, as Khatiskatsi said, Zhorzholiani was arrested based on the complaint of
Sopromadze, CEC representative in Mestia DEC; several days ago Zhorzholiani and
Sopromadze had an argument.
“Kakha represents Georgian Dream in Mestia DEC. Several days ago he quarreled with
Sopromadze, a CEC representative; they argued about opening 200-member special polling
station in Mestia when there had never been military bases there. It was attempt to add 200
more votes in Mestia via military precinct. By the way, based on the fair decision of the CEC,
this polling station was cancelled. Kakha and Sopromadze had argument on this issue though
they did not assault each other. Sopromadze wrote complaint on this fact and blamed Kakha
in hindering the ongoing session,” Nina Khatiskatsi said. 95
Transparency International Georgia is responding to the administrative detention of several
people on alleged political grounds that took place during the last few days. It is worrying
that the arrests do not seem to have been based on solid or reliable evidence. These
questionable arrests give us reason to suspect that certain politically active people are being
intentionally targeted and removed from the ongoing electoral process.
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