NGOs Speak Out Against Alleged Gang Violence Case
Eight individuals are accused of gang violence in a high-profile case. But human rights groups say the evidence against them is weak and unfair.
The main evidence used to accuse Zviad Tsetskhladze, Irakli Miminoshvili, Vasil Kadzelashvili, Vepkhia Kasradze, Giorgi Gorgadze, Nikoloz Javakhishvili, Tornike Goshadze, and Insaf Aliyev is video and audio recordings from social media. But these recordings may have been obtained illegally.
NGOs claim that using such evidence would be unfair and could lead to wrongful convictions. They say the case against the eight individuals is “artificially made up and politically motivated.”
The NGOs believe that the real reason for the charges is to punish the defendants for participating in peaceful protests and to intimidate others from joining the protest movement.
A study of the criminal case materials found several problems with the evidence:
* There’s no clear proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
* The video and audio recordings are not reliable, as their source and authenticity are unknown.
* There’s no evidence that the defendants were involved in any group violence or had planned to commit such an act.
NGOs urge prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement officials to respect citizens’ rights and refuse to carry out tasks that may lead to unjust convictions.
