Detained Georgian opposition politician, Khoshtaria, persists in custody following his rejection to post bail as a form of protest.
In the Caucasus region, the opposition Droa party's leader, Elene Khoshtaria, finds herself in pre-trial detention following her refusal to pay bail. This decision comes after her arrest on Monday, which was prompted by a video she published showing her making an inscription on Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze's re-election banner.
Until recently, Khoshtaria was the only leading figure of the Coalition for Change free from detention. Her fellow Coalition members Zurab Japaridze, Nika Gvaramia, and Nika Melia were arrested and sentenced to months in prison over the summer.
The inscription Khoshtaria made on the banner was 'Russian Dream', a phrase that has stirred controversy in the region. As a result, she and another supporter, Megi Diasamidze, are being investigated for damaging or destroying property. The offence they are being investigated for carries penalties ranging from fines, community service, or up to five years in prison.
Khoshtaria considers her trial a farce. In a letter from her detention center, she stated that her detention is unlawful. She wrote that paying bail to secure release is not freedom, but a 'ransom to open the prison door'.
The Coalition for Change, to which Khoshtaria's party belongs, is one of the largest opposition groupings. Their daily protests, which began after the government's decision to suspend Georgia's EU membership bid, often gather at Kaladze's campaign headquarters, a site of confrontation since its opening on 4 September. On 8 September, supporters of the ruling party attacked the gathering, leaving several demonstrators injured.
Despite her current situation, Khoshtaria's determination remains unwavering. Her refusal to pay bail has garnered support from her fellow opposition members and her supporters, who view her actions as a stand against what they perceive as political persecution.
The Tbilisi City Court granted Khoshtaria bail, but she has chosen to remain in pre-trial detention in protest. Her further fate depends on the ongoing legal proceedings in Georgia.
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