Georgia: relatives and friends of painter Mamulashvili demand his release

The held an action on April 15 in front of the courthouse in Tbilisi demanding freedom for Tsotne Mamulashvili, a painter and the expert of the "NATO Information Centre", accused of robbing a pawnshop: about 10 protesters exposed posters: "Free Tsotne Mamulashvili!" in the English and Georgian languages.

Maria Ekser, a participant of the action, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the reason for public protest was the fact that Tsotne Mamulashvili had been kept in jail for more than a month, while, in her opinion, the court had no reasons not to let him out on bail.

"We demand respect for the law, because an innocent person should not be kept under investigation and held in jail for the crime he hadn't committed. Investigators have any sufficient evidence and no proofs of his guilt. But we still hope that the law will prevail," said Ms Ekser.

The protest took place after the second pre-trial session, where the prosecution and the defence parties presented their arguments and asked to summon the witnesses who have to testify in court.

According to the prosecutors' version, voiced out on April 15, Tsotne Mamulashvili, acting in cahoots with three other men, robbed the pawnshop at 3:00 p.m. on January 21. Three of the defendants - Tsotne Mamulashvili, Jaba Lomidze and Mamuka Bokashvili - deny their guilt; and one - Lasha Djambazashvili - pled guilty and concluded a procedural agreement with the investigation.

The next hearing on the case of Tsotne Mamulashvili is scheduled for April 17.

Let us note here that Maya Ordjonikidze, a member of the "Democratic Party of Georgia", which is opposing the ruling coalition "Georgian Dream", believes that her son is prosecuted for political reasons. However, the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia asserts that her son was detained in accordance with the law.