A court has ordered pre-trial detention as a preventive measure against Giorgi Baramidze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement (UNM) party.
The ruling was handed down by Judge Eka Barbakadze. The defendant was also present at the hearing.
As a reminder, Giorgi Baramidze was detained on September 11 on charges of high treason, specifically sabotage. According to the prosecution’s version, his statement regarding the war in Abkhazia damaged the reputation of the Georgian Defense Forces and infringed upon the honor and dignity of war veterans and fallen servicemen. Baramidze’s actions were also cited as having jeopardized the process of reconciliation and confidence-building with the conflict-affected population, while undermining the state’s peaceful policy and course toward de-occupation.
The charges carry a penalty of up to four years of imprisonment.
Baramidze’s Controversial Interview
On July 18, an episode of Iago Khvichia’s program “The Birth of Georgia” featuring Giorgi Baramidze was published on YouTube. The discussion covered various topics, including the exchange of prisoners during the war in Abkhazia in the early 1990s. At the time, Baramidze stated that “they no longer gave us prisoners, and we had no prisoners—our side didn’t take prisoners.” When Khvichia asked why, the opposition figure replied: “They finished them off.”
Baramidze later released a video address on social media clarifying his remarks from the interview. The politician noted that his comments pertained to the situation during the first weeks of the war: “When the opposing side asked to hand over anyone [prisoners], there were none.” The UNM member also argued that his remark had been circulated out of context “in a truncated form.” According to Baramidze, he had expected pro-government media to latch onto what he had said.
Shortly thereafter, criminal proceedings were instituted against the opposition figure under Articles 307-1 and 318 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which cover high treason and endangering state interests.
