Evidence Released to Back Arrest of Opposition Activist

The Georgian General Prosecutor?s Office released a new tapped phone conversation between wanted warlord Emzar Kvitsiani and Irakli Batiashvili of the opposition Forward Georgia party on August 1 in an attempt to provide additional evidence allegedly proving Batiashvili?s links to plotting a coup.

Batiashvili was arrested on July 29 and charged with having links to a coup attempt through giving recommendations, instructions and, as prosecutors put it ?intellectual assistance? to Emzar Kvitsiani, who is now wanted by Georgian law enforcement.

In a newly released tapped phone conversation, after government troops were sent to Kodori Gorge to crack down on the rebel militia on July 25 Batiashvili tells Kvitsiani: ?You should definitely call on [government] troops in televised [interviews] not to use arms and not to shed blood ? this is very important.?

In a recording of a phone conversation between Kvitsiani and Batiashvili that was released earlier, the latter tells Kvitsiani to ?stand firm.?

The release of new tapped phone conversation came after InterPressNews agency quoted Georgian Public Defender Sozar Subari saying on August 1 that evidence put forth by the prosecutors was not enough for Batiashvili?s arrest.

MP Nika Gvaramia of the ruling National Movement party said on August 1 that the evidence that has now been shown is enough to bring criminal charges against Batiashvili.

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