Ruling Party MP Cheishvili: ‘all components of crime present in Khabeishvili’s actions’

Tornike Cheishvili, the First Deputy Chair of the Legal Issues Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Sunday said the actions of opposition United National Movement’s Political Council Chair Levan Khabeishvili contained “all components of a crime,” citing Article 317 of Georgia’s Criminal Code.

Posting on social media, Cheishvili stressed that Khabeishvili’s case was “legally completed” and argued that “political justice belonged to the past and no longer reflected today’s reality.”

“A lawyer cannot assess this differently; the case is simple. In Khabeishvili’s actions, all components of crime are present – publicity, incitement, intent to overthrow, and the object – state authority,” he wrote.

Cheishvili also addressed allegations of bribery promises, noting that witness testimonies, including references to “personal emotions,” were secondary to the fact that Khabeishvili had made a public promise of reward targeting specific law enforcement officers who refused to carry out their duties.

“Even without those testimonies, nothing would change, since the promise itself was public and had a clear object – any law enforcement officer who failed to fulfill assigned duties. Legally, there are no question marks left. Political justice is a thing of the past, tied to a reality 13 years ago,” Cheishvili said.