Elene Khoshtaria refused to pay bail for her release in Georgia.
Elena Khoshtaria, one of the leaders of the For Change coalition, was given bail of 5,000 lari by the court. However, the opposition leader refused to pay it and remains in custody.
As reported by the Caucasian Knot, on September 16, the Georgian Prosecutor's Office charged Elena Khoshtaria with property damage, which carries a sentence of up to five years in prison. The opposition leader called the trial a "farce" and waived her right to a defense, considering legal action against the authorities pointless.
Koshtaria left the inscription "Russian Dream" on the campaign banner of Tbilisi mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze and the current mayoral candidate. In videos she shared on her Facebook page*, she can be seen using a marker to write letters on an election banner featuring Kaladze.
Today, the court set bail for Elene Khoshtaria at 5,000 lari (approximately $1,850). Judge Arsen Kalatozishvili announced the decision. Until bail is paid, the leader of the "Coalition for Change" will be transferred from the pretrial detention center to a women's prison, according to a report by TV Pirveli.
A state-appointed lawyer was also present at the hearing, despite the fact that the detainee refused his services. Judge Arsen Kalatozishvili petitioned for mandatory defense, the publication reports.
As stated in a letter distributed to Elena Khoshtaria from the temporary detention center, she does not intend to pay bail.
"Paying bail and thus leaving is not a way to freedom, it is a tribute to open the prison door, which I, of course, will not pay. Not because it would hurt my pride, because I would not be able to call you to any struggle or participate in it, and I will not participate in lies and farce. My imprisonment is illegal, like that of a huge number of free people. But imprisonment does not stop the struggle, I promise you this. We will win with honor! Until the end! If someone posts bail for me, it will be like a knife in the heart for me, I will not give anyone the right to do this," Interpressnews quotes her letter.
"The Coalition for Change," the creation of which was announced in August 2024, showed a notable result in the parliamentary elections in October, taking second place. 11.03% of voters voted for it, which brought the bloc 19 mandates. The ruling party "Georgian Dream" received the largest number of mandates (89). "Unity - National Movement" received 16 mandates, "Strong Georgia" - 14, "For Georgia" - 12. Already on October 27, 2024, the "Coalition for Change" refused the mandates, declaring the elections illegitimate.