Defence lawyer Archil Chopikashvili: We will exhaust every legal mechanism at home and abroad to defend Aleko Elisashvili

“We shall continue to employ every available legal avenue to safeguard the interests of Aleko Elisashvili,” stated Archil Chopikashvili, the defence lawyer representing the co-leader of the Strong Georgia–Lelo coalition, who was detained on charges of attempting a terrorist act.

According to the lawyer, every necessary measure will resolutely be taken to ensure that this “unjust political imprisonment is brought to a swift end.”

“The legal evaluation of today’s verdict is that it lacks even the minimum degree of lawful substantiation, nor could it ever possess any. Naturally, we will continue to apply all appropriate legal remedies to ensure that Elisashvili’s rights and interests are protected. We will appeal to the higher courts and exhaust every legal mechanism, both domestically and internationally. We fully anticipated that this political imprisonment could not and would not be resolved by a single verdict, in a single day or a single minute. This process demands subsequent steps and relentless activity, and every necessary measure will absolutely be taken to ensure this unlawful and unjust political imprisonment is brought to a swift conclusion,” Chopikashvili declared.

Aleko Elisashvili, one of the leaders of the Strong Georgia–Lelo coalition, was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment for an attempted terrorist act relating to a November 29 incident.