**Georgia’s Civil Society Groups Claim Arrested Protesters Are Victims of Politically Motivated Case**
On March 11, leaders from Georgian civil society met to discuss the case of eight people arrested during a pro-EU protest in December. The protesters are accused of group violence and face prison time.
The eight individuals are: Zviad Tsetskhladze, Vepkhia Kasradze, Vasil Kadzelashvili, Giorgi Gorgadze, Irakli Miminoshvili, Insaf Aliev, Tornike Goshadze, and Nikoloz Javakhishvili. Some of them face up to nine years in prison.
**Lack of Evidence and Due Process**
The civil society leaders claim that there is no clear evidence against the defendants. They say that the main evidence was obtained unfairly and should not be used in court.
Eka Gigauri, from Transparency International – Georgia, said that the group’s actions were not pre-planned or organized. She also pointed out that the audio and video recordings used as evidence were secretly recorded by government agents without a court order.
**Prosecutors Accused of Selective Justice**
Nino Lomjaria, founder of Georgia’s European Orbit, said that the case materials show no signs of organized crime. The defendants did not know each other before the protest, she claimed.
The civil society groups believe that prosecutors “picked” certain people from the crowd and found evidence to justify their arrest. They are calling for accountability and fair treatment of the detainees.
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