09 September 2008, 13:30
In Georgia, arrested Tsotne Gamsakhurdia goes on hunger strike
The son of the ex-president of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia - Tsotne Gamsakhurdia, detained on September 3 in the Tbilisi Airport under accusations of a putsch attempt, has announced a hunger strike.
We remind you that on September 5 the City Court of Tbilisi passed a ruling on a two-month pre-trial detention of Tsotne Gamsakhurdia.
The "Gazeta.Ru" has reported today with reference to his advocate Keti Becauri that the son of the first president of Georgia is on hunger strike in prison for five days already.
"In this manner Tsotne Gamsakhurdia is expressing his protest against his groundless detention. He demands that an objective court trial be held and his two-month custody cancelled," said the advocate. According to his story, the Appeal Court of Tbilisi refused to consider the appeal against the first instance verdict.
At a closed court session, Mr Gamsakhurdia refused to plead guilty and left the courtroom in protest, since the Judge rejected all the petitions of the defence. After announcement of the ruling by the Judge, Tsotne's mother - the widow of the first president Manana Archvadze-Gamsakhurdia and about 50 her supporters blocked the traffic along the central highway in the Digomi District, where the City Court of Tbilisi is situated.
