Plea bargain misrepresentation weaponised against confessed offenders, says MP Matikashvilli

“The disease of the collective United National Movement has reached into families and even affected relations between fathers and children. These people are dressing up their own ambition to change the government by destructive means,” said MP Davit Matikashvili, chair of Parliament’s Procedural Issues Committee.

He said the state is being appropriately humane towards those who admit guilt in the 4 October case.

“The 4 October rally was violent and aimed at overthrowing the government. Even so, the state will be appropriately humane towards those who repent and admit their crimes. Individual offenders are rightly benefiting from this balanced judicial approach; they admit their guilt, and the state’s proportionate response is prompt,” Matikashvili said.

“Yet certain actors report on these plea agreements in a negative light, attempting to shame and guilt-trip those who confess. It has created a painful dynamic within families, where a son does not even want his own father released from prison. This is the disease of the collective National Movement, which has reached into families and even affected relations between fathers and children. These people are dressing up their own ambition to change the government by destructive means,” Matikashvili said.