Political activist Lasha Chkhartishvili was arrested today at a rally outside the National Library.

 

According to his lawyer Ia Siranashvili, Chkhartishvili was arrested for "holding grains of beans and throwing them in the air." According to her, the facts of any violation did not appear in the video evidence presented by the prosecutor.

 

“The arrest record states that Lasha was holding grains of beans and throwing them in the air. He was arrested for that. Nothing more appears in the video footage we were given” - the lawyer said.

 

Chkhartishvili was sentenced to 8 days of administrative imprisonment. The judge also fined Chkhartishvili with 300 GEL.

 

We express our deep concerns that the Georgian court is a servant of the ruling party, any form of peaceful protest against the informal ruler, Bidzina Ivanishvili,  is punishable. PEN Georgia demands the immediate release of a political prisoner Lasha Chkhartishvili.

 

PEN Georgia