The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Georgian court’s verdict against the jailed Georgian clergyman Giorgi Mamaladze was “fair.” The applicant’s appeal for moral compensation was also denied, according to the Georgian Justice Ministry.

The European Court of Human Rights concurred with the Georgian government’s position, asserting that no poisonous substance was planted in Mamaladze’s belongings during the search.

Mamaladze also argued over the complete trial closure, saying the public officials and prosecuting authorities had breached his presumption of innocence in their statements.

The ECHR said that the complete closure of the trial to the public was not “strictly necessary.” It found “the breach of the presumption of innocence through the combination of public statements by public officials and prosecuting authorities, case-file material dissemination in the media, and unequal enforcement of non-disclosure obligation enabling the main witness to make public accusations.”

The Justice Ministry said those violations are of “a procedural character” and have no bearing on the judgment fairness.

Mamaladze was apprehended at Tbilisi International Airport in early February 2017 when law enforcement agents detected cyanide poison in his belongings during a check.

The Interior Ministry eventually revealed that the cleric had planned the assassination of the Patriarch’s secretary, Shorena Tetruashvili.