Levan Khabeishvili, chairman of the Political Council of the United National Movement, delivered an emotional address during a recent court hearing in which he described being detained, tortured and denied justice, and insisted that his detention is political. Khabeishvili told the court that, paradoxically, his time in custody has become an intense period of study — “thanks to the prosecution, I’m practically doing a master’s degree in Rustavi prison with all the literature I’ve read,” he said.
Khabeishvili said he is not motivated by revenge but by a desire to restore humanity and trust in Georgia’s institutions. He addressed the judge directly, questioning the legitimacy and purpose of his detention and arguing that the justice system should inspire confidence rather than fear. “People should run to court; they should be glad to see it — but society hates and loathes the court,” he said, adding that he hoped even a sliver of hope — “at least 0.5%” — would remain that he might find justice.
The opposition figure repeatedly framed his prosecution as politically motivated, saying that statements he made publicly as a politician were treated as criminal acts. He challenged prosecutors’ assertions about his supposed flight risk, noting that his statements were public and that evidence used in other high-profile cases had been treated differently. Khabeishvili said he had been recognized as a victim in his own torture case and appealed to the court to act humanely rather than “crush” or “break” political opponents.
Khabeishvili also invoked personal stakes, saying the detentions had deprived his children of their father and warning against cycles of vengeance. He expressed solidarity with other detained protesters and opposition figures, arguing that the court’s role is to distinguish criminals from political dissenters — not to punish the latter. Judge Nana Shamathava prompted him to conclude his address; Khabeishvili replied that after two months in custody it was difficult to be constrained to a ten-minute closing.
Khabeishvili was detained in September and faces charges that Georgian authorities say relate to promising a bribe and later accusations linked to unrest on October 4; courts have ordered pre-trial detention for him while co-defendants have in some cases been released on bail. His arrest and subsequent detention have drawn attention from domestic and international media amid wider political tensions in Georgia.
Image source: nation.ge
