Database/Political Prisoners

Political Prisoners

Complete registry of Georgia's political prisoners — documented cases of those detained, sentenced, or persecuted for exercising democratic rights.

113
Currently Imprisoned
46
Sentenced
67
Pretrial Detention
8
Released / Acquitted
15
On Bail
6
On Hunger Strike

This list is compiled from verified public sources and is updated periodically. However, due to the rapidly evolving nature of legal proceedings in Georgia, the current status of individual cases may have changed since the last update. If you have updated information about any case listed here, please contact us through our secure channels.

138 results

Saba Skhvitaridze

Sentenced
2 years
Art. 120

Member of the Akhali Party.

Sergey Kukharchuk

Age: 27
Sentenced
2 years
Art. 225.2Art. 226

27-year-old Ukrainian citizen from Kherson. Has wife and two children. Does not speak Georgian.

Hunger Strike
Ukrainian

Tornike Goshadze

Age: 26
Sentenced
2 years
Art. 225.2Art. 226

26-year-old, worked in a restaurant helping his family pay off a mortgage. Father passed away three years ago. Family is socially vulnerable; lives with mother and sister.

Valeri Tetrashvili

Sentenced
2 years
Art. 225.2Art. 226

Arrested in Kazbegi.

Zviad Ratiani

Sentenced
2 years
Art. 353.1.1

Poet and translator. Previously brutally beaten by riot police on November 29, 2024, sustaining a fracture of the fifth vertebra, broken nasal bone and septum. Attacked again by masked men on December 12, 2024. No one held accountable for either attack.

Elene Khoshtaria

Sentenced
1 year 6 months
Art. 187.1Art. 318.1Art. 319Art. 321.1

Founder of the political party Droa! movement and a member of the Coalition for Change. Detained after writing protest slogans on ruling party campaign banners.

Abo Naveriani

Age: 42
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

42, from Mestia. Builder. Lives with 72-year-old mother.

Aleksandre Chilachava

Age: 44
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225

44-year-old political activist from Zugdidi. Higher education degree, currently unemployed. Protested daily for nearly a year.

Aleksandre Elisashvili

Pretrial Detention
Potential: Up to 3 years (attack) + 10-15 years (attempted terrorist act)
Art. 156.2aArt. 323.1

Opposition politician.

Aleksandre Gogoladze

Age: 63
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

63, Tbilisi resident. Runs car parts shop. Grandfather of twins. Suffers from bladder cancer and history of heart attack.

Aleksandre Khabeishvili

Age: 35
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

35, socially vulnerable citizen from Abasha. UNM member. Father of 5-year-old with health issues. Unemployed.

Amiran Dolishvili

Age: 21
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

21, from Mukhrovani (Mtskheta region). Was preparing for surgery at time of arrest.

Anton Vardanidze

Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

Avtandil Surmanidze

Age: 30
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225

Ukrainian war veteran. Spent over three years in Ukraine fighting against Russia. Originally from Khulo. Served as an instructor and missile operator in an air defense battalion. Was home visiting his socially vulnerable family.

Avtandil Topchishvili

Age: 48
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

48, sole breadwinner. Two children. Wife undergoing cancer treatment. Works as welder.

Bachana Akhalaia

Pretrial Detention
Potential: Up to 9 years
Art. 225.1

Former Minister of Defense. Previously spent 9.5 years in prison after 2012 arrest.

Beka Kelekhsashvili

Age: 21
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

21, self-employed, lives with mother. Has prior conviction (drug-related), was serving suspended sentence.

Beka Machavariani

Age: 35
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

35, taxi driver. Takes psychotropic medication. Serious financial difficulties. Exercising right to remain silent.

David Ghurtskaia

Age: 27
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

27, from Zugdidi. Father of young child. Worked as chef. Wife is unemployed.

David Giunashvili

Age: 69
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

69, displaced from Tskhinvali. Works in construction.

Last updated: March 2026