The lawyers refused to defend Georgy Chigladze in the case of the attack on the tourist.
Lawyer Lasha Kapanadze, representing the interests of Georgy Chigladze, accused in the case of attacking a Russian-speaking tourist at a hotel in Georgia during a wedding, reported that he and his colleague Mariam Durglishvili are withdrawing from the case and will no longer defend Chigladze.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the attack by Georgian resident Georgy Chigladze on a Russian-speaking tourist caused a stir on social media. According to one of the participants in the incident, the investigation confirmed that the girls did not splash water on the wedding guests, did not insult them, and did not damage the equipment. By August 3, the Russian citizen who was hit by Chigladze left Georgia with her friends. On August 4, Georgy Chigladze's lawyer published footage from the hotel cameras in Telavi. The video confirms that water was poured on the wedding participants. Back in July, AI-generated images featuring Mikhail Saakashvili and Georgy Chigladze circulated online, as noted by the fact-checking portal "Myth Detector".
According to the lawyers, their initial goal was to secure Chigladze's release after his detention and his return to his family. This was achieved. However, the result obtained must be preserved, and for this, certain steps must be taken by the client himself. This was reported by lawyer Lasha Kapanadze on his Facebook page.
"When the defendant does not follow the lawyer's instructions, which are necessary for the case and are part of an effective defense strategy, the lawyer is forced to withdraw from the case, as a conflict of interest clearly arises in such a situation," Kapanadze writes.
The lawyers also thanked the Georgian people and journalists who supported them throughout this time. According to them, this support played a significant role in Chigladze's current freedom.
Social media users doubted Chigladze's lawyer's version of the tourists' insurance manipulations. Lasha Kapanadze's version, that the tourists might have provoked the conflict for insurance payout, seems questionable, as travel policies primarily cover medical expenses, and the lawyer did not provide evidence supporting the described scheme, users pointed out.
Special thanks were expressed by Kapanadze and Durglishvili to the management of the "Agarani Estate" hotel. During a meeting on August 7, the hotel management fully supported the lawyers in the criminal case and allowed them to conduct necessary investigative actions on the hotel premises without hindrance.
According to the lawyers, these actions were intended to ensure that Chigladze remained free, which is a priority for the hotel management as well as for the defense.
"Fortunately, it is a fact that, no matter what uncertainty arises, the Georgian side will always stand by each other," the statement reads.
The lawyers wished success to the defender who will continue the work they started and expressed hope that the case will conclude with the result they consider the only correct and just one.
Lawyer Mariam Durglishvili explained that the decision is related to the balance between professional activity and personal dignity and fundamental principles of a citizen of Georgia.
"I will always reject interests that contradict my dignity. Because dignity, principles, Georgia cannot be sold. For me, the profession of a lawyer is not just about handling cases and providing legal services. It is a responsibility - to defend what is right, to stand for what needs to be stood for, and not to deviate from my principles, even when it is the hardest decision," Durglishvili wrote on her Facebook page.
"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the spread of messages about allegedly hostile attitudes towards Russian tourists is sabotage against the country itself, effectively placing the responsibility for the campaign to discredit the country's tourism sector on internal critics of the government. The opposition considered such rhetoric an attempt to label opponents negatively.