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Kakhi Kaladze Requests Release of Giorgi Demetradze

March 25, 2011

Interpressnews

Kakhi Kaladze, captain of the Georgian football team requests release of the former member of team Giorgi Demetradze. His statement was spread via facebook on March 24th with the following title – “Release Unjustly Arrested Giorgi Demetradze!”

The “Sportal” confirms that this statement belongs to Kaladze. The press service of the football player does as well.

Apart from the request of Demetradze’s release, Kakhi Kaladze talks about the general situation in the country: “I appeal to my friends, colleagues, and compatriots: It is time to demand more transparency from the government. The country, called a ‘seamark of democracy’ has shown regress for the last few years. It is very unfortunate that in the 21st century we have to talk secretly. The stereotype of fear should be destroyed and we should destroy it firstly inside of ourselves.

For my whole life I have been fighting for my state, in the field or outside of it. I never feared challenges and difficulties. I always believed that sooner or later the justice would triumph, the law would rule and the double standards would no longer be applied.

However, the reformed Georgian judiciary failed the next test in the opinion of certain part of society! Like hundreds of thousands of citizens of our country, I think that we should reexamine the case of Giorgi Demetradze and re-study its each detail.

The Court’s verdict caused mistrust among the public… Many people call us, Giorgi’s friends. We come across various supportive statements in the social network. Before the end of the court proceedings I still hoped that justice would triumph for the benefit of an unfairly detained person… however - in vain…

I strongly believe that Giorgi Demetradze is innocent and we, his friends and thousands of fans of his talent will fight till the end! We believe that justice will prevail!”

Tbilisi City Court sentenced Giorgi Demetradze to 6 years in prison.

According to the City Court, 30 000 US dollars that was seized after his search will be confiscated.

The City Court passed 8-year imprisonment verdict against Davit Gagnidze arrested along with Demetradze. The additional sentence, the confiscation of property and 10 700 US dollars seized after his search was also imposed; As for Davit Peikrishvili, detained along with Demetradze, a plea-bargain agreement was made with him and he was imposed of 6-year imprisonment sentence. 2-years sentence was determined to be served in the penitentiary department and the rest four years to be served conditionally, with 5-years probation term. Peikrishvili was also imposed with 30 000 GEL fine.

Demetradze, Gagnidze and Peikrishvili were charged with the offence envisaged by part I of Article 2231 of the Criminal Code – association with the “criminal world.” The case concerns the money won as a result of the bet. According to the City Court, Vakhtang Kipiani, Giorgi Demetradze, Davit Gagnidze and Davit Peikrishvili actively helped the winners of the bet with the confiscation and the subsequent distribution of the money. Certain part of the money was transferred to the criminal world total sums. At the moment of money transfer, the members of the criminal group were detained. The law-enforcement officials confiscated 40 700 US dollars after their search.

“Tbilisi City Court found the defendants guilty of the charges and determined the sentence considering the high public danger of the crime,” – states the City Court.

Vato Kipiani has recently been detained in Moscow. The issue of his extradition to Georgia has not been decided yet considering the severed relations with Russia.

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