Liberty Institute members have accused Kutaisi Appeals Court of breaching procedural norms. As Tea Tutberidze informed at today’s press conference defense lawyers of Aprasidze family (arrested two years ago for kidnappings and illegal storage of firearms in Svaneti) were prevented from attending their trial. As a result, the court made ruling without hearing defense arguments and discussion.

Tutberidze claimed she contacted presiding judge who claimed that a state defense lawyer attended the trial.

“It is unclear in what conditions was the state lawyer hired since the defendants already had their own lawyer. It is also very unclear how any lawyer could read the case in just one day,” Tutberidze said.

She also criticized stipulation in a law allowing for finalization of trial protocols within five days of hearing. Due to this reason Tutberidze and Minashvili were unable to see the trial protocol. Tutberidze allowed for fraud opportunity in the protocol compilation process.

Liberty Institute members also voiced their criticism towards the Supreme Council of Justice.

“Today our judiciary is scared, full of complexes and disabled. Judges are afraid of prosecutors,” says Minashvili and calls Council of Justice to rule disciplinary proceedings against judges who violate law. According to Liberty Institute’s Giorgi Meladze similar acts by judges equal to attempts to discredit the judicial reform. Similar violations might prompt calls for increasing duration of pre-trial detention back while they have just been reduced as a result of the ongoing criminal justice system reform, Meladze said.