Vato Kipiani, Avtandil Bilanishvili and Shota Kipiani remanded in custody

At the court hearing, prosecutor Vakhtang Kharebashvili stated that there are factual and formal grounds for the use of imprisonment against Avtandil Bilanishvili, also known as "Katsro". According to the prosecutor, Bilanishvili has been fined approximately 30 times in the amount of 1500-2000 GEL for driving without a driver's license, however, he has not paid a single fine and compulsory enforcement is underway. Interpressnews+2

Bilanishvili's lawyer, Tamar Abesadze, noted that administrative fines cannot be grounds for imprisonment and that non-payment of a fine does not mean that a person is guilty. The defense side proposed that the court leave Bilanishvili without a measure of restraint or apply a 3000 GEL bail. The judge explained that the issue is not about the payment of the fine, but about the repetition of the same act. Interpressnews

The Prosecutor's Office also filed a motion for imprisonment against Vato and Shota Kipiani. According to the prosecutor, Shota Kipiani has a prior conviction and committed the new crime while under a suspended sentence, while in the case of Vato Kipiani, there is a risk of him absconding and hindering the investigation. Vato and Shota Kipiani's lawyer, Marika Pkhaladze, assessed the prosecution's position as illegal and disproportionate. Interpressnews+1