The Court of Appeal reduced the sentences of those convicted in the July 5, 2021 group violence case. The decision was announced today, January 16, by judge Maia Tetrauli.
6 persons convicted in the case of July 5 – Davit Kutaladze, Akaki Nakashidze, Tornike Davlasheridze, Tsotne Chikhladze, Gia Giguashvili and Otar Gelashvili – were acquitted by the decision of the second instance under the second part of Article 225 of the Criminal Code, which involves participation in group violence. With this decision, the 5-year prison sentence given by the first instance was reduced to 4 years.
According to Interpressnews, the announcement of the decision in the Court of Appeal was followed by noise. Family members and relatives of the detainees insulted the plaintiffs and journalists and tried to damage the journalists’ video cameras. The bailiff defused the situation.
On July 5, 2021, on Rustaveli Avenue, where the march of dignity was planned, homophobic violent groups raided the offices of queer activists and physically assaulted journalists, including TV Pirveli operator Lexo Lashkarava, who received severe physical injuries and later died. According to the decision of the City Court of April 4, 2022, 6 persons arrested in connection with the case of July 5 were sentenced to 5 years in prison.
The convicts were charged with the third part of Article 118 and Articles 154 and 156 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which involve less severe damage to health, obstruction of journalistic activity and persecution.
