Supreme Court of Georgia

Statement of Kutaisi City Court

Published: 12/26/2013

On December 26, 2013, the Office of Prosecutor General made a public statement, which refers to the description of details of witness testimony, which was examined on a closed court session at Kutaisi City Court on criminal case of Zurab Chiaberashvili and Ivane Merabishvili, which was held on December 25, 2013. 

According to the article 182 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia, the court may deliver a decision about partial or full closure of court session on basis of party’s motion or on basis of its own initiative. In this case, the court session during the examination of witness – the former head of the Constitutional Security Department of Adjara A/R Mr. Teimuraz Pataridze, which was held on December 25, was closed.

Besides, according to the law, the court is authorized to bind a person attending the closed court session, not to disclose information that he learned during this session, and the same was in this particular case. However, the prosecution has not fulfilled this commitment. 

The Court stated, that the obligation not to disclose the information obtained on a closed court session is extended on the prosecution and on the defense, as well as on all persons presented at the closed court session. Therefore, all the persons, lawyers, and above all, the prosecutor and the Office of General Prosecutor have to carry out their duties with responsibility and abide the law and the courts instructions.

Kutaisi City Court