The family members, human rights defenders, and supporters of Lazare Grigoriadis, who was arrested during the March 2023 protests, have gathered near the presidential administration. They are asking the President to pardon Lazare Grigoriadis, who was sentenced to 9 years in prison by the court today. The group has already submitted a request to President Salome Zurabishvili.
The court found 21-year-old Lazare Grigoriadis guilty of harming the health of police officers and destroying state property during the March protests. The Tbilisi City Court judge Zviad Sharadze sentenced him to 9 years in prison, fully satisfying the prosecution’s motion.
Lazare Grigoriadis was present at the announcement of the verdict and delivered a final speech, pleading not guilty. He was detained on March 31 last year and has been in custody since then.
According to the investigation, on March 7, during the rally on Rustaveli Avenue, Grigoriadis threw two “Molotov cocktails” at the Special Tasks Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, causing harm to the officers on duty. On April 9, he also intentionally set fire to a Toyota Corolla car belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, causing damage of 39,500 GEL to the state budget. In total, 6 people were arrested in connection with the March 7-8 incidents, with 5 of them being released on bail.
The family members, human rights defenders, and supporters of Lazare Grigoriadis are calling for justice and asking for the President’s intervention in this case. They believe that Grigoriadis is innocent and that the charges against him are politically motivated. They are also protesting against the Russian law that was recently passed, which they believe is a violation of human rights.
The group is determined to continue their fight for justice and will not give up until Lazare Grigoriadis is released. They are urging the government to take action and address the concerns of the people. The current government’s actions have caused outrage among the citizens, and this case is just one example of the injustice and oppression that is prevalent in the country. It is time for the government to listen to the people and take steps towards building a fair and just society.
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