“Thanks to the prosecution, I’m practically doing a master’s degree in Rustavi prison with all the literature I’ve read,” stated Levan Khabeishvili, Chairman of the “National Movement” Political Council, during the court hearing.
Khabeishvili also noted that he is seeking justice but cannot find it. He addressed the judge as follows: “This isn’t about vendetta—I want humanity to return to this country. People should run to court; they should be glad to see it, but society hates and loathes the court.”
“I want to express my position—over these two months, a lot has accumulated. I’ve done a lot of analysis during this time. I want to express solidarity with those who want a better future for the country, who protest and are locked in prison. I want to show the court and society something else. The court should not be an institution where a person comes expecting to be taken away and hanged. When I come here, I want at least 0.5% hope that I’ll find justice. When I speak about myself, I’m speaking about hundreds of detained people. When we created the court, we gave you the right to arrest criminals and remove them from society. We didn’t give the court legitimacy to punish us, to throw us in cages… How many people have you torn from their children, their families? Justice must be humane. I can’t find justice—what have I been sitting here for two months for? What exactly am I charged with—I’m asking the court? Is any action charged against me? A politician, Levan Khabeishvili, is charged for political statements—public, on-air statements—that a public official should serve the law, and if I came to power, they would be rewarded. A political promise cannot be considered a bribe. It’s incomprehensible for a politician to be imprisoned for a political statement. If I had said, ‘I don’t like the constitutional order, let’s overthrow it,’ yes, that would be overthrow. Have you heard the slogan: ‘Fire to the oligarchy’—does that mean we should burn it with fire? Have you heard: ‘The system must collapse’—do you think we should demolish it with a jackhammer? Thanks to the prosecution, I’m practically doing a master’s degree in Rustavi prison with all the literature I’ve read…
I have two children; they’ve lost their father too. But socially vulnerable people, with calloused hands, were arrested. Judges and prosecutors should not be appointed without at least three days of ‘internship’ in a closed space. You hold the gavel and send people to prison for 2–3 months. How can Levan Khabeishvili be dangerous to society? In the same Parliament, I said Gharibashvili is corrupt—and the people judging me said, ‘You clown, liar.’ He came here, bowed his head, and said, ‘Yes, I did it.’ Justice cannot be based on crushing, breaking, or carrying out someone’s orders. When I said about Partskhaladze, ‘He’s an FSB agent,’ they said, ‘Clown, funded by Kezerashvili.’ When I said about Mikautadze, ‘How did you bring this into Parliament?’—four years later, he was arrested. It’s unimaginable that a politician cannot speak or convey messages to society. I have no hope… I left my two windows open for air to come in… How can I not have even the minimal sense of justice? These officials will go home and hug their children. Aren’t you a judge? Show me where this justice is? The prosecutor says there’s a risk of Khabeishvili absconding—it’s a joke… I made all statements publicly. What should I destroy? Let them open my phone—I bought it on installment, they took it and couldn’t unlock it. The Minister of Defense, twice Prime Minister—from his house they seized 15 million lari, and they set a bail of one-twentieth, no flight risk apparently. How can the court turn a blind eye to this? This isn’t about vendetta—I want humanity to return to this country. People should run to court; they should be glad to see it. You know what the problem is? Society hates, loathes the court. They appeal to ‘family, traditions’—Christianity and solidarity are in the blood of the Georgian people, and you can’t erase that. Where is Christianity in the current government’s politics?… I was tortured—you’d be surprised, I’m recognized as a victim. I’ve never detained anyone for violence, not even administratively. They kidnapped me, tortured me, and I couldn’t find justice. Am I not human? In my torture case, whoever participated—whether ‘Khareba’ or anyone—I’m working so revenge doesn’t drive me. My children are 16 and 14—do you know what I told them? Not to seek revenge, not to let it into their hearts,” Khabeishvili stated.
Judge Nana Shamathava urged him to speak on the case and conclude.
“I’ve been in prison for two months for speaking, and you’re rushing me in 10 minutes?… Hitler didn’t do anything else—he shot people, but even Hitler gave people an account. If you sew my mouth shut so I don’t say ‘overthrow Ivanishvili,’ do you want me to tape it with scotch? This isn’t right. According to their charges, this was linked to October 4. It’s passed—what’s dangerous about Khabeishvili now?…
Every single day there is hell, and you need serious psychological preparation. Every day you destroy each person who is not a murderer,” Khabeishvili stated.
Levan Khabeishvili: They kidnapped me, tortured me, and I couldn’t find justice—am I not human? I’m working so revenge doesn’t drive me—thanks to the prosecution, I’m practically doing a master’s degree in prison with all the literature I’ve read
