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.

64 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.

Aleksandre Elisashvili

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

Opposition politician.

Gela Khasaia

Age: 29
Pretrial Detention
Potential: 4-6 years
Art. 118-2.2

29-year-old Georgian activist and member of the opposition party Girchi More Freedom, part of the Coalition for Change.

Lasha Chkhaidze

Age: 42
Pretrial Detention
Art. 187.1

42-year-old from Guria. Works as a driver on a highway construction project. Has a child, a mother, and a brother. Divorced. Has a prior criminal record and was serving a suspended sentence.

Mindia Shervashidze

Age: 33
Pretrial Detention
Potential: Up to 2 years
Art. 126.1b

33 years old.

Tamar Lortkipanidze

Age: 48
Pretrial Detention
Potential: 4-7 years
Art. 126Art. 353.1

48-year-old longtime participant in pro-European, anti-government protests.

Tornike Toshkhua

Age: 37
Pretrial Detention
Potential: Up to 2 years
Art. 126.1b

37-year-old former public servant (Revenue Service).

Hunger Strike

Zurab Menteshashvili

Age: 61
Pretrial Detention
Potential: Up to 1 year
Art. 347.1

61-year-old long-time protest participant. First Georgian protester criminally charged under new road-blocking laws.

Hunger Strike

Giorgi Vashadze

Released
7 months
Art. 349Art. 318.1Art. 319

Leader of the political party Strategy Aghmashenebeli.

Givi Targamadze

Released
7 months
Art. 349

Former senior official under UNM government. MP from 2004 to 2016. Car bombed in 2016. Sentenced in absentia by Russian court in 2013.

Zurab Japaridze

Released
7 months
Art. 349Art. 318.1Art. 319

Leader of the political party Girchi – More Freedom.

Omar Okribelashvili

Age: 24
Released
2 years 6 months (reduced from 3 years by amnesty)
Art. 187.2g

24-year-old. Total damage was 400 GEL (reimbursed by NGO).

Saba Mepharishvili

Age: 23
Released
2 years 6 months (reduced from 3 years by amnesty)
Art. 187.2g

23-year-old from socially vulnerable family. Worked in construction to support parents.

Giorgi Akhobadze

Age: 44
Acquitted
Potential: 8-20 years or life imprisonment
Art. 260.6

44-year-old Georgian doctor and civic activist. Spent nearly 9 months in pretrial detention before acquittal.

Nikoloz Katsia

Age: 42
Acquitted
Potential: 8-20 years or life imprisonment
Art. 260.6

42-year-old protester. Spent nearly 9 months in prison before acquittal.

Last updated: March 2026