22 February 2019, 16:43
Georgian court arrests activist Zviad Kuprava
The Prosecutor's Office has persuaded the court to change the release on bail for custody of Zviad Kuprava, a participant in the protest actions against the sentence in the case of the murder of teenagers in Tbilisi.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 10, 2018, those who disagreed with the court decision on the case of the murder of two schoolboys in Tbilisi blocked a street. On June 11, the organizer of the rally Zviad Kuprava and three other activists were detained. During the break in the court session, in the court canteen, an incident occurred. To the policemen's demand to return to the courtroom, Mr Kuprava asked to let him finish his lunch; however, policemen forced him out. The court released him under the bail of 2000 US dollars.
Two Tbilisi teenagers died from stab wounds received in a brawl on December 1, 2017. On June 1, 2018, one defendant was sentenced to 10.5 years in prison; the other one – to nine years and nine months in prison. Suspicions that investigators could have sheltered the criminals provoked mass protests.
According to the Georgian "Channel One", the prosecution petitioned to change Zviad Kuprava's freedom restriction measure, because he, by committing a new offense, has violated the conditions for release on bail.
The Prosecutor's Office has petitioned for the arrest because of a new criminal case about the beating up of lawyer Irakli Zakareishvili. On February 19, the investigation under the article of "beatings" was initiated, the "Sputnik-Georgia" has reported.
Mr Kuprava has stated that he is not hiding from the police and is ready to continue struggling for justice even in prison, The "News-Georgia" reports.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 21, 2019 at 11:08 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
