According to Jano Chkadua, the lawyer of Zurab Menteshashvili, who had been found guilty over repeated blocking of a road, the Court of Appeals delivered its decision in Zurab Menteshashvili’s case without an oral hearing and dismissed the defence’s appeal. “Deciding the case without an oral hearing directly violates the right to a fair trial and the fundamental principle of publicity of proceedings,” the lawyer wrote.

Menteshashvili’s side was seeking his acquittal before the higher court. Menteshashvili is the first citizen to have been held criminally liable under the legislation tightened in the wake of protest rallies for repeated blocking of a roadway. He spent nine months in prison.