Journalist Tamaz Bakuridze’s Lawyer Accuses Adjara Supreme Court of Law Violation

Journalist Tamaz Bakuridze’s Lawyer Accuses Adjara Supreme Court of Law Violation

According to Tamaz Bakuridze’s lawyer Nino Kikalishvili, the Batumi City Court’s June 21 ruling, which sentenced the journalist to six and a half years of imprisonment, was appealed against to the Adjara Supreme Court’s Court of Appeal.

In accordance with Article 228 of the Criminal Code, the Supreme Court had to start deliberation on the appeal at the last on the 1st of September 2005. However, the date for the preliminary hearing has not been appointed up to this very day. This is a flagrant violation of the law in the words of the lawyer.

Bakuridze’s lawyers demand the cancellation of the Batumi City Court’s ruling and his release from prison. According to Kikalishvili, Bakuridze’s guilt has not been proven. Being general director of Adjara TV and press secretary of former Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze, he was arrested in August last year. He was convicted for abuse of his position and embezzlement.

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