Lawyer: Court Bars Representative of Female Footballer From Disclosing Verdict

Lawyer Ana Tavkhelidze, who represents a 20-year-old female footballer, writes that the court obliges her to disclose the content of the verdict. The foreign citizen charged with raping the woman was released from the courtroom.

According to Tavkhelidze, the verdict was received yesterday. To confirm receipt, she was brought a pre-printed receipt form, which, for the first time in her practice, contained the following entry: "Furthermore, in accordance with Article 13¹ of the Organic Law of Georgia "On Common Courts", I undertake the obligation not to disclose the information contained in the transferred court decision (verdict), since this criminal case was heard in a closed court session."

"Put simply: with this receipt, I would have been obliged not to speak about the content of the verdict," writes the lawyer.

Ana Tavkhelidze clarifies that she refuses to assume this obligation and intends to speak about the verdict. To do so, she will have to wait for the court's response; she has notified the court of her position in writing.

According to the lawyer, the injured party is not considered a party to the court proceedings. During the trial, the parties were represented by the prosecution and the defendant, Turkish businessman Mehmet Uyar, with his lawyer.

"It is worth noting that the same judge did not give me the session minutes precisely on the grounds that I am not a party: only the parties have the right to access the minutes. I intend to speak about the verdict. I am waiting for the court's response," writes Tavkhelidze.

Mehmet Uyar owns a number of companies, including the women's football club in Georgia where the injured party plays.

The acquittal of Uyar was issued by judge Giorgi Arevadze at the Tbilisi City Court on September 22. Uyar was released from the courtroom. The injured party, who was attending the session, felt unwell and was taken from the court by ambulance.

The case will continue to be heard at the next instance.