The Strong Georgia — Lelo coalition has commented on the verdict handed down to Aleko Elisashvili. The party stated that this is yet another confirmation that the judicial system in Georgia does not serve justice and is being used as a tool of political pressure.
Attempts to portray Elisashvili as a terrorist, Lelo noted, are a disturbing signal, as the terrorism charge, they claim, is not based on credible and convincing evidence.
Coalition representatives called Elisashvili a “political prisoner of Bidzina Ivanishvili,” whose sentence of 13 years in prison is an “unjust and politically motivated decision that has nothing to do with justice. It is particularly alarming that they are trying to portray him as a terrorist, even though the terrorism charge is not backed by credible and convincing evidence.”
Lelo states that even before the trial began, Aleko Elisashvili had been labeled a terrorist by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, which, in their view, influenced the court’s decision.
“Aleko Elisashvili is a political prisoner of the Ivanishvili regime. This is yet another example of how the authorities use the judicial system to persecute and intimidate political opponents,” the coalition stated.
Strong Georgia — Lelo also emphasized that, in their view, repression, political persecution, and unjust sentences will not be able to stop the aspiration for freedom and democracy.
The coalition expressed its support for Elisashvili, his family, and his loved ones, stating that it considers political justice to be temporary and freedom inevitable.
