The Tbilisi City Court will continue hearing the case against politicians accused of sabotage, with proceedings to be held behind closed doors.

Judge Tamar Makharoblidze made this decision following a heated exchange between the lawyer and the judge.

Lawyer Beka Basilaia requested that the judge refrain from banging the gavel on the desk. Nika Gvaramia also commented, saying, “Bang, I have no problem.”

The judge responded that such remarks were an insult to the court and ordered those present at the trial to leave the courtroom.

For context, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has initiated criminal proceedings against Mikheil Saakashvili, Giorgi Vashadze, Nika Gvaramia, Nikanor Melia, Zurab Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze, and Badri Japaridze. The charges include sabotage, aiding and abetting hostile activities by a foreign state, financing actions aimed at undermining Georgia’s constitutional order and national security, and inciting the violent overthrow of the constitutional order or the government.