Nika Gvaramia, one of the leaders of the Opposition Alliance, who is accused in the so-called sabotage case, commented on the court testimony given by police officers. Writing on his Facebook page, the politician noted that the prosecution witnesses mostly recalled his “right hand” and how he raised it during protest rallies.
“In the sabotage case, two more witnesses remembered me again. Or rather, they remembered my right hand. That is the only thing they remember, just like the previous witnesses: when I raised my right hand, the crowd would start making noise and moving toward the parliament. They don’t remember anything else—not my words, not my facial expression, not where I was standing, what I was wearing, what I was doing, nor my left hand; only my right hand and how I raised and lowered it.
Apparently, they think of us as a conductor. Toscanini, von Karajan, Barenboim, and me. I even somewhat like this Konstantine Arsakidze-style comparison. He had a famous right hand, and now, it seems, mine is gradually becoming famous too,” Gvaramia wrote.
As a reminder, charges in the so-called sabotage case have been brought against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze.
Specifically, Giorgi Vashadze and Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze have been charged under Part 1 of Article 318 and Article 319 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which cover sabotage and assisting hostile activities of a foreign state. These articles carry a penalty of imprisonment for a term of 7 to 15 years.
Elene Khoshtaria is charged under Part 1 of Article 318, Article 319, and Part 1 of Article 321 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which cover sabotage, providing material resources for the commission of this crime, and assisting hostile activities of a foreign state.
Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze have been charged under Part 1 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which covers sabotage.
Mikheil Saakashvili has been charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which covers public calls for the violent change of the constitutional order or the overthrow of state power.