On September 17, the Social Justice Center (SJC) released a statement criticizing the four-year sentence given to Giorgi Shanidze, an activist who opposed the Foreign Agents law. The organization argues that this decision is a clear punishment for political activism and that the Prosecutor General selectively applied strict laws to Shanidze’s case.
Shanidze was found guilty under two articles of the Georgian Criminal Code – Article 265 for illegal cultivation of plants containing narcotics and Article 187 for damaging surveillance cameras. However, the SJC points out that he was sentenced to four years for growing only three plants of cannabis, which is a harsher punishment than the one and a half years he would have received under Article 187. The organization also notes that in similar cases, the Prosecutor and the Court usually use plea bargaining and non-custodial sentences. However, in Shanidze’s case, this did not happen, allegedly because of his involvement in protests.
The SJC also highlights the problematic use of Article 187 against demonstrators in recent years, where even minimal damage results in harsh prison sentences. They argue that Shanidze’s case is an example of the politicization of justice, where a citizen who is deemed undesirable by the government is punished severely.
The organization also criticizes the government for using drug crimes, which have long been associated with unfair and harsh punishments, as a means of retribution against those who oppose them. They point out that this goes against the government’s promise to reform the criminal justice system before coming to power.
The SJC concludes by stating that the use of criminal justice mechanisms against demonstrators has become a common practice to suppress critical opinions. They argue that this verdict against Shanidze exposes the unjust criminal policy and the politicization of the prosecutor’s office. Instead of addressing these issues, the ruling party has subjugated the judiciary to their partisan interests and influence.
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