The lawyer for the Director of the Caucasus Institute for Human Rights, Irakli Chikhladze, who has been detained on espionage charges, says his client has no connection whatsoever to espionage activities.

Chikhladze reviewed the case materials together with his attorney, Giorgi Gelkhauri.

Speaking after leaving the State Security Service of Georgia, Gelkhauri said he is bound by a non-disclosure obligation and therefore cannot discuss the details of the case.

“I can say one thing: based on the case materials we reviewed, Irakli has absolutely no connection to espionage activities or to any actions that could have harmed the state interests of our country,” the lawyer said.

According to Gelkhauri, the evidence presented in the case does not substantiate allegations of espionage or actions taken against Georgia’s national interests.

“Based on the materials we were shown, there are not only insufficient grounds for pretrial detention, but no grounds at all for imposing any preventive measure. I am not even talking about the most severe measure. The person should remain free without any preventive restrictions because Irakli has no connection to this charge,” he stated.

The comments follow the filing of espionage charges against Chikhladze.