Lawyer Will Appeal against 15-Day Imprisonment of Journalist Lali Moroshkina

Irakli Kapanadze, lawyer of the journalist Lali Moroshkina will appeal against the decision of the Tbilisi City Court to impose 15-day administrative imprisonment on his client.

“Lali has never had any connection with law enforcement bodies before. Besides, she is active public figure. Bearing the abovementioned circumstances in mind, we believe the administrative charge imposed on Lali Moroshkina was inadequate because also confess the alleged physical and verbal insult but there is no fork mentioned in the case materials, though Tako Pkhakadze insists she was injured by fork. Lali’s reaction was caused by strong astonishment. And we designed our suit based on those circumstances,” the lawyer told the Pirveli.

He said they have already finished working on the suit and Moroshkina will sign it.

As for Moroshkina’s hunger-strike, the lawyer said incorrect information is spread about it. “Moroshkina did not start hunger-strike because of the judge’s decision. She protests the behavior of Tako Pkhakadze and Nanuka Zhorzholiani and thinks everything was previously planned and they wanted to insult her.”

On December 10, Lali Moroshkina was arrested in her house early in the morning. The Prosecutor’s Office blamed her in minor hooliganism; Judge Koba Gotsiridze imposed 15-day administrative imprisonment on her.

The case was launched based on the suit of victim Tako Pkhakadze. Simultaneously, Lali Moroshkina made a statement on TV-Company “Kavkasia” that she had beaten the founder of the newspaper PrimeTime Tako Pkhakadze when Nanuka’s Show was being recorded.

She said she had received invitation to the Nanuka’s Show three days before. “I do not think I am right person for the Koduas’ funded TV-program but I accepted the invitation and as a journalist went there. When I arrived at the footage and saw PrimeTime’s carpet in the studio, I realized that Pkhakadze had planned a provocation against me with the support of Nanuka Zhorzholiani’s Show.”

Moroshkina said the guests received prizes for different New Year nominations. “The TV-program was full of positive emotions,” but Moroshkina was nominated as the Woman with the Worst Taste.

“When I went towards the stage to get the prize, Tako Pkhakadze ironically smiled. Anyway, I took the prize. Then I asked Nanuka to allow me to make a speech. I said supposedly Tako Pkhakadze could not become a good journalist, a good woman, a good person and she envies everybody who forced her way in life without Gigi Ugulava’s [Tbilisi City Mayor] support. I am sorry but I had no other option; when I returned to my place I heard Tako’s irony. I apology to the society but now I want to tell you and the law enforcement bodies – I beat Tako Pkhakadze,” said Moroshkina and added that their controversy will supposedly continue at the court.

The law enforcement officers arrested Lali Moroshkina after that statement. Currently, she is in pre-trial detention setting of the MIA.

News Agency “Pirveli”