**Opposition Leader Refuses to Pay Fine**
Gigi Ugulava, the leader of the opposition in Georgia, has said he will not pay a fine imposed by the court. The Tbilisi City Court is currently deciding whether to make him pay.
Ugulava called the case “absurd” and said it was an example of “financial terror” against the people. He compared the government‘s actions to physical intimidation and claimed that the government was trying to scare people into paying fines.
The opposition leader said he would not urge anyone else to do the same, but it was a personal decision for him to refuse to pay the fine.
**Lawyer Moves to Remove Judge**
During the court session, Ugulava’s lawyer, Irakli Abesadze, asked the judge to remove himself from the case. Abesadze claimed that the judge had been sanctioned by Estonia and should not be handling this case.
However, the judge refused to accept this request and continued with the case.
**Ugulava Criticizes Judge**
Ugulava also criticized the judge, saying that the whole process was a “farce” and that everything had already been decided in advance. He told the judge not to waste time on the hearing, as it would be pointless.
The opposition leader is accused of blocking a road during a protest rally on January 17.