Lawyer questions ruling party MPs over claims against opposition leader Khabeishvili

The lawyer of United National Movement’s Political Council Chairman Levan Khabeishvili has publicly challenged legal experts within the ruling Georgian Dream party, asking them to clarify statements made against his client.

Lasha Tkesheladze posed two questions to Georgian Dream’s lawyer-MPs:

“Who said anything about throwing Molotov cocktails or hanging anyone? And when police officers receive bonuses and awards from the state budget, is that considered a bribe?”

Khabeishvili was arrested on 11 September on charges of promising a bribe of $200,000 to law enforcement officers to disobey orders or refrain from using special equipment during protests. He is also accused of making public calls to overthrow the state government.

The Tbilisi City Court has ordered him into pre-trial detention. Khabeishvili and his party have denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated.