Strategy’s Manjgaladze appeals to judge to deliver just verdict: Do not punish me for standing with my people and for loving my country

Paata Manjgaladze, defendant in the October 4 case, has declared that the case contains no genuine evidence that he held any organisational role or function in connection with the October 4 demonstration. He made this statement during his closing address at trial.

Manjgaladze further maintained that the case contains not a single credible fact establishing that he had any prior knowledge of a plan involving violence.

“The case presents no evidence that I, or anyone else in my presence, declared that we ourselves were organising violent acts. There is not a single credible fact in the case to suggest that I had advance knowledge of any violent plan. In every video contained in the case, I state unambiguously that I am not an organiser of the demonstration and that I had no knowledge of any plans. The proceedings have conclusively established that the organisation of the October 4 demonstration took place long before the day itself, and not by any invented committee, but by other individuals entirely. Every person questioned during the trial, including Paata Burchuladze, stated directly that no organisational committee existed with my involvement, let alone one concerned with violence, and that its fabrication was intended to provide cover in anticipation of a provocation.

I was unaware of even this at the time the video was recorded. The prosecution has not produced a single fact or piece of evidence that would even indirectly confirm my participation in organising the demonstration, or establish any connection on my part with the events that unfolded near the Palace. In the course of the proceedings, it was established that the prosecution had attributed to me calls to action made by others, whilst it was equally established that, despite my own wish to do so, I was never in fact able to address the demonstration. The very authors of those statements say that their words had not been agreed in advance with anyone, let alone with me. The prosecution has offered no argument to refute this. The prosecution has failed to present any evidence confirming the location, timing, decisions made, or Paata Manjgaladze’s organisational role at any pre-October 4 meeting in which he participated. It is universally known that Paata Manjgaladze was not present near the Palace at all, and this is confirmed by every video submitted by the prosecution, as well as by witness testimony,” Manjgaladze declared.

He further stated that the prosecution knows full well that he has done nothing wrong.

“I did not set anything on fire. I did not assault anyone. I made no calls to action. I did not damage the Palace fence, because I was at the demonstration with my minor children, aged fourteen and fifteen, and I left the area the moment the call came.

Am I to be punished because I stood with my people and tried, as best I could, to shield them from harm? Though I could not, for the events unfolding around me were entirely beyond my control and independent of anything I did. The evidence in the case irrefutably establishes my innocence, and this was set out in exhaustive detail in the closing address of my counsel, Beka Basilaia, as well as by the Public Defender in an amicus curiae submission.

Even though the case contains not a single objective piece of evidence confirming my guilt, I am in no doubt that this case carries a high degree of political interest. It is necessary, Your Honour, that you find within yourself the strength, the fortitude of will, to deliver a just verdict in this case, and not to punish me for standing with my people at a demonstration, and for loving my country. I extend to you my sincere good wishes. I genuinely have no desire ever to see you cast in the role of Pilate, that role in which everyone knows a man is innocent, and yet he must be punished still, must be nailed to the cross for the sake of truth, of goodness, and of love,” Manjgaladze declared.