The court hearing of Eliso Kiladze, founder of Qronika+, was closed at the request of the prosecution. The defendant herself opposed the prosecution’s motion, stating that, as a journalist, publicity is of fundamental importance to her.
Kiladze’s statement prior to the closure of the hearing was reported by InterpressNews (IPN).
“I do not agree with the prosecution’s position. I am a journalist, and publicity is important. I have been in complete isolation for one month and two days; I have been denied correspondence, visitation, and phone call rights. Obviously, I do not admit the charges against me. I am mentioned only once in connection with the alleged group, and I know none of the individuals involved except for two. There is no evidence whatsoever that I provided any recommendation to any ‘call center.’ On the contrary, I exposed these ‘call centers,’ which were owned by Davit Kezerashvili.
[…]
I was detained with the involvement of special forces; no official exposed for corruption has been arrested in such a manner. I must be given the opportunity to respond to the charges. The only place where I can speak is in a courtroom. Am I in 1937? The proceedings should be open to the media. If I am not given this opportunity, how am I supposed to prove my innocence?
If this is their intention, they may as well sentence me to execution — what is the point of these nine months?
I ask the court to take my position into account and not to close the proceedings. I deeply regret that I was unable to attend the hearings in Jangveladze’s case and could not be present during the examination of several key witnesses,” Eliso Kiladze stated.
Eliso Kiladze has been detained in connection with a case involving fraudulent call centers. She has been charged under Articles 180 and 194 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for a sentence of 9 to 12 years of imprisonment upon conviction.
In the same case, charges have also been brought against former Chief Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze, brothers Davit and Giorgi Mikadzes — accused in the murder of Merab Jangveladze — as well as other individuals.
