Prepared by Messenger Staff
Gakharia Party Accuses Prosecutor's Office of Deliberately Withholding Key Evidence
The Prosecutor's Office has officially recognized Giorgi Gakharia, leader of the Gakharia For Georgia party, as a victim in relation to an alleged attack in Batumi. Gakharia's party has criticized the investigation process, claiming they were denied access to critical evidence. According to a statement from Gakharia For Georgia, the prosecutor's office refused to allow Gakharia's representative to view important video footage of the attack, stating that the recordings were being sent for further examination. The party claims the prosecutor's office has copies of the footage but has withheld them.
The party argues that victim status was requested to access key case materials, particularly the video evidence, which they consider essential for understanding the attack. When Gakharia's representative arrived in Batumi to review the evidence, they were informed that they could not view it, despite the prosecutor's office having possession of the footage. Furthermore, the party claims that Gakharia's representative was denied access to the interrogation records of a key witness, Zviad Koridze. They also assert that the investigation has made little progress, with only one witness formally questioned nearly two weeks after the attack.
The party suggests that these actions are part of a deliberate effort to obstruct the truth. They accuse the prosecutor's office of acting under the directives of Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia's former Prime Minister, to cover up the attack and shield those responsible. They argue that the refusal to release the video evidence reflects an attempt to downplay Ivanishvili's alleged role in orchestrating the attack and to conceal its coordinated nature.
Georgian Dream Delegation Led by Shalva Papuashvili Visits Hungary
Shalva Papuashvili, Chair of the Georgian Dream Parliament, arrived in Hungary on January 26, leading a delegation for meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. On January 27, he met with László Kövér, Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary. Their discussions centered on inter-parliamentary relations and concluded with the signing of a framework agreement to enhance cooperation and share Hungary's EU integration experience.
During the meeting, Kövér emphasized the strong relationship between Georgia and Hungary, highlighting shared priorities such as sovereignty and common challenges that foster collaboration. Papuashvili expressed gratitude for Hungary's support and reaffirmed Georgia's commitment to achieving EU membership by 2030, with plans to fulfill 90% of its EU Association Agreement obligations by 2028.
Papuashvili described the visit as a significant step in advancing Georgia's European integration efforts. He commended Hungary for its support and expertise as an EU member. During his trip, Papuashvili is also scheduled to meet Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President Tamás Sulyok to further strengthen cooperation.
