**Tbilisi Activist Sentenced to Four Years and Six Months in Prison**
In a tense hearing at the Tbilisi City Court, Judge Nino Galustashvili delivered a verdict that has sparked outrage among supporters of activist Mate Devidze. The 21-year-old was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for assaulting police officers during a rally dispersal on November 19.
**Emotional Scenes Erupt Outside the Court**
As the verdict was announced, Devidze’s supporters were seen falling to the ground in the court corridors and being forcibly removed from the building by bailiffs. The scene outside the courtroom was equally emotional, with family members and supporters breaking down in tears after hearing the news.
**Devidze Speaks Out Against the Verdict**
In his concluding remarks before the verdict, Devidze told the court that he “cannot hear this verdict.” He also expressed gratitude to his supporters, saying “I won’t be seeing you in a while.” Devidze’s final words were a poignant expression of his conviction and faith: “To look for light in endless darkness.”
**The Case Against Devidze**
Devidze was tried on charges of assaulting police officers during the November 19 rally dispersal. The prosecution claimed that he physically attacked officers and inflicted bodily harm using a stick-like object. However, Devidze’s defense argued that he acted in instinctive self-defense, swinging the object out of fear without intending to injure anyone.
**Witness Testimonies Challenged**
Devidze’s lawyers have challenged the testimonies of three police officers who claimed to have been attacked by the activist. They point to inconsistencies in the officers’ accounts and argue that their statements are unreliable. Despite these challenges, Devidze was found guilty under Article 353 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which relates to assaulting a police officer in the line of duty.
**Reaction from Georgia’s Fifth President**
Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, was present at the hearing and later told journalists that “everyone will pay the price for [the verdict] tomorrow, the day after.” Her comments suggest that she believes the sentence will have far-reaching consequences.
**What Next?**
The conviction of Mate Devidze has sparked widespread outrage among civil society groups and opposition politicians. The case is seen as a test of Georgia’s commitment to protecting human rights and upholding the rule of law. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how this verdict will impact the country and its people.
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