The lawyers of Mamuka Khazarade and Badri Japaridze, held a special press conference today. The leading lawyer of defendants Zviad Kordzadze noted that they already have enough materials to address the European Court of Human Rights regarding the Khazaradze-Japaridze case. Kordzadze has also added that Georgia won’t be the only country where the court hearings will take place, he said that foreign lawyers are involved in the case, who will work with him in various areas and protect the interests of Khazaradze and Japaridze abroad.

"The case against Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze went beyond outside the jurisdiction of Georgia. The prosecution has already filed several petitions with the UK in this regard.

At the same time, we have already materials in the case by which we may apply to Strasbourg. That's why we involved two very experienced and qualified lawyers the case”, Kordzadze said.

British international criminal lawyer Steven Kay has said that one of the important aspects of this case lies in the letter that has been sent to the forensic expertise in the UK, because the material allegations that are described in the letter have become a reality.

“The context of this case is highly unusual. In my review of the matter I have noticed that politicians have been making statements, leaders of political parties and members of government have been making comments. this raises a question: is it a political prosecution, or is it a prosecution that has been conducted in an ordinary fashion, according to the rule of law. Also there is a letter and the material allegations have played out as it was described in the letter and the letter itself is submitted to forensic science laboratory in the UK,”- says Kay.

Several days ago Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze have issued a statement regarding the meeting that was planned in the prosecutor’s office. As it is known, prosecutor’s office was planning a meeting with the members of diplomatic corps about the alleged money laundering case.

“By such meeting, the Prosecutor’s Office is openly attempting to shift to the Diplomatic Corps the burden of the decision concerning the mentioned politicized case with no legal grounds. This attempt indicates that the Prosecutor’s Office has moved beyond its legal frames and has a serious crisis of legitimacy with regard to this particular case.

Furthermore, we would like to emphasize the fact that representatives of the governing party are actively making public statements concerning this case and are discussing the ongoing criminal case with the media in detail. By misrepresentation and false representation of the factual circumstances of the case prior to the start of the court proceedings, the mentioned representatives of the governing party are trying to form a public opinion regarding the case before the decision of the court of law has been made,”- reads the statement from Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze.

Press conference of Khazaradze-Japaridze lawyers: