20 April 2007, 22:53
Georgia: Human Rights Watch intervenes for Giorgadze's supporters
The Human Rights Watch NGO has sent a letter to Giorgij Shavliashvili, Chair of the Tbilisi City Court, asking him to hold an open trial of the thirteen activists of the "Justice" Party and their supporters accused of a coup d'etat attempt in Georgia, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports with a reference to the office of the "Imedi" Party.
In particular, the letter of the Human Rights Watch runs: "We are writing to urge you to ensure that Georgia fully respects its international obligations in relation to the guarantee of a fair and public trial in the case of the accused activists and supporters of the "Justice" Party. We are concerned that the right of the defendants to a fair trial and with it public confidence are at risk given the court's recent decision to close all of the trial's hearings to the public."
Author: Alena Aleschenko, CK correspondent