“The charge related to overthrow – where have you seen an overthrow without weapons? Where have you seen Levan Khabeishvili armed? Am I some kind of bandit?” stated Levan Khabeishvili, chairman of the political council of the “United National Movement,” during the court hearing before the judge closed the session.
As he noted, he does not distance himself from any of his statements.
“I want to tell the public: the gendarmerie employees carried out my detention. You must understand, there is no evidence other than my political statements. I want to repeat, this is my political promise. I announced to the public my party’s promise – $200,000 for those who do not torture people.
My facial bones were illegally broken, my head was cracked open, Mr. Prosecutor, have you detained a single person? Countless people, hundreds, have been beaten, scalps have been torn off. Have you detained anyone?
Have you ever seen me whispering something to someone in a so-called basement? I stated it publicly, hundreds of people joined this initiative – stand up and arrest them all. If I was breaking the law two months ago, what were you doing until now? Why didn’t you detain me earlier, why didn’t you catch me red-handed?
Yes, a reward from the budget is absolutely normal when you tell people not to illegally torture others. All my demands were related to protecting the Constitution and human rights. Levan Khabeishvili is an activist who has been fighting corruption for 13 years. Their propaganda wanted to say that Khabeishvili offered a bribe, and they wrote this charge just so the word ‘bribe’ would appear – it’s insulting to me. I’ve been fighting the regime’s corruption for 13 years, and now they’ve charged me with bribery.
They say billionaire Kezerashvili is funding Khabeishvili – where are those billions? Why haven’t you found them? I already know you’re going to send me to prison, so just say it.
You won’t bother me for two months, so give me the chance to speak to the public.
Moving to the second charge: how can protecting the Constitution and calling for not breaking people’s bones be a crime? I, politician Levan Khabeishvili, fight for my people, and the time will come when these people will receive dignified compensation.
Who is judging me? The people who promised 5 million to each village, as well as a 1,000 GEL pension… A reward for honest police officers is supposedly a bribe. For me, the term ‘bribe’ is more humiliating than imprisonment.
The charge related to overthrow – where have you seen an overthrow without weapons? Where have you seen Levan Khabeishvili armed? You’re itching to throw me in a cell so you can continue your lives in peace…
I want to tell the judge and the public: this decision is political.
People, they have lost – this is their defeat. Don’t be afraid of anything; this is a political process. I do not distance myself from any of my statements. There is no bribe, no coup, no overthrow. The government has no right to ignore the people. We must win on October 4! Whoever tells you it’s not about the 4th but the 9th is a nobody,” Khabeishvili stated.
It was precisely this statement and address that prompted applause and ovations from those present in the courtroom, which led the judge to close the hearing, including to the media.
Levan Khabeishvili: Where have you seen an overthrow without weapons? Where have you seen Levan Khabeishvili armed? Am I some kind of bandit? This is a political process; there is no bribe, no coup, no overthrow – we must win on October 4!
