For Georgia’s Parulava: Strasbourg’s decision proves prosecution against Gakharia is political revenge

“Strasbourg’s decision is clear evidence that the case against Gakharia is nothing but political retribution,” stated Giga Parulava, a member of the Gakharia for Georgia party.

According to Parulava, sooner or later, the Strasbourg ruling will serve as a foundation for an objective and impartial investigation.

“We fully welcome yesterday’s decision by the Grand Chamber of the Strasbourg Court regarding the June 20 case. This ruling confirmed that the fabricated charges brought against Giorgi Gakharia by Georgian Dream are merely political persecution. The Strasbourg Court’s decision clears Gakharia of the allegations levelled by the Georgian Dream prosecutor’s office.

It ruled that:
1. The dispersal of the June 20 rally was lawful, as it involved an assault on a state institution.
2. The only weapon used to disperse the rally and cause serious injuries was rubber bullets. The disproportionate use of rubber bullets was proven in four specific cases.
3. Giorgi Gakharia did not order the use of rubber bullets.

Eventually, this Strasbourg decision will undoubtedly form the basis for an objective and impartial investigation, and it will be conclusively established who issued the order to use rubber bullets. As the Strasbourg Court explicitly states, Giorgi Gakharia and the Deputy Ministers of Internal Affairs did not give this order. His legal team will present Strasbourg’s ruling as evidence of Gakharia’s innocence in court.

Once again, the Strasbourg ruling has demonstrated that the case against Gakharia is purely and completely political revenge. We call on the organisers and the real architects behind June 20 — you cannot escape responsibility,” declared Giga Parulava.

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights issued a decision in the case “Tsaava and Others v. Georgia”, which concerns the dispersal by police of an anti-government demonstration in front of Parliament on the night of June 20-21, 2019. The Strasbourg Court found violations of both aspects of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (inhuman or degrading treatment/lack of effective investigation) in respect of 24 applicants. In relation to 14 applicants, the court found a violation of Article 10 of the Convention (freedom of expression). The court also established that Article 11 of the Convention (freedom of assembly) was violated in respect of 11 applicants.

For context, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has initiated criminal proceedings in two cases against Georgia’s former Minister of Internal Affairs and former Prime Minister, Giorgi Gakharia. One of these cases pertains specifically to the events of June 20–21, 2019. Gakharia has been remanded in custody in absentia as a preventive measure.