“It was a slap to everyone, starting with Bidzina Ivanishvili – this slap will turn into a very big slap from society, from the people!”—this was stated by the poet Zviad Ratiani, accused of assaulting a police officer, during a court hearing.
He is accused of assaulting police officer Teimuraz Meshvelashvili. According to the prosecution, Zviad Ratiani struck Teimuraz Meshvelashvili in the face.
Zviad Ratiani himself does not consider himself guilty and explains that his action was “the least painful, symbolic act with historical significance.”
“I agree with my lawyers; I don’t think it requires much explanation as to what I did and why I did it. I will use the rest for my closing statement. I do not consider myself guilty of the charges brought against me… It was the least painful or minimally painful symbolic act, generalized, symbolic, with its historical significance. Every police officer involved in this injustice and betrayal of the country should take it personally… It was a slap to everyone, starting with Bidzina Ivanishvili,” Zviad Ratiani stated.
He also addressed prosecutor Giorgi Gogaladze, noting that from his “absurd texts,” he could only derive meaning from one word.
“From these absurd texts, the only meaning I derived was the word ‘personality’… You don’t even know the elementary meaning of the word ‘valid.’ It’s clear what path you’ve chosen in life, but you need to work a bit harder…
One of my main inspirations was the cases of Mzia Amaglobeli and Nino Datashvili, the violence that happened to them—this slap will turn into a very big slap from society, from the people,” Zviad Ratiani declared.
A substantive hearing on Zviad Ratiani’s case is scheduled for August 27.
For reference, the poet Zviad Ratiani was detained on June 23 on charges of assaulting a police officer.
The charge was brought under Article 353, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (assault on a police officer in connection with their official duties), which carries a penalty of imprisonment from 4 to 7 years.
Zviad Ratiani: One of my main inspirations was the cases of Mzia Amaghlobeli and Nino Datashvili, the violence that was committed against them – this slap will turn into a very big slap from society, from the people!
