Georgia, Tbilisi, Sept.26 / Trend, N. Kirtskhalia /
A protect action demanding lawyer Tariel Murmanishvili's release from prison will be held in front of the Georgian Supreme Court in Tbilisi on Monday. Murmanishvili was arrested on Sept. 9 on charges of fraud.
"The detention of Murmanishvili was the last straw. Lawyers' rights are violated under Saakashvili. Harassment of legal attorneys is unprecedented. Murmanishvili is a victim of Saakashvili's regime," said the Georgian Bar Association Chairman Zaza Khatiashvili, stressing his involvement as an organizer in the protests.
Khatiashvili said Murmanishvili is being persecuted for fulfilling his professional duties "fairly."
"Today, all lawyers are targets of the country's leadership and are under threat of being arrested on absurd charges. Georgia has a feudal court, where lawyers are judged as in feudal countries. This is shameful," Khatiashvili said.
The protests entitled "Protecting lawyers from Saakashvili's regime" was held in front of the EU office in Tbilisi on Aug. 2. Protesters demanded that the EU assume its obligation of providing lawyers with the right to guaranteed protection, found under Article 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.