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

Simon Makharadze

Age: 22
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

22, orphan from Shemoqmedi village, Ozurgeti. Lives in poverty, works in rural areas.

Sulkhan Abralava

Age: 48
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

48, originally from Sukhumi. Married with 6-year-old child. Self-employed handyman. Had kidney surgery 3 years ago for malignant tumor.

Sulkhan Tugushi

Age: 41
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

41, self-employed, Tbilisi.

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.

Temur Kurtsikidze

Age: 25
Pretrial Detention
Art. 19-222.2aArt. 225.2

25, from Tbilisi.

Tornike Mchedlishvili

Age: 27
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

27, bartender from Tbilisi, originally from Kakheti.

Tornike Toshkhua

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

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

Hunger Strike

Vakhtang Phitskhelauri

Age: 33
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

33, activist from Gori. Cellphone repair technician.

Vladimer Gvelesiani

Age: 43
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

43, from Batumi, lives in Tbilisi. Construction worker. Sole caregiver for elderly mother.

Yuri Lomidze

Age: 31
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

31, former soldier and police officer. Served in Afghanistan 2013-2020. Married with two young children. Sole breadwinner.

Zakro Albutashvili

Age: 66
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

66, security guard at 37 Rustaveli Avenue. Has only one kidney (other removed in 2015 due to cancer).

Zurab Chavchanidze

Age: 59
Pretrial Detention
Art. 225Art. 222

59, known as 'flag bearer from Batumi.' Displaced from Abkhazia, self-taught artist. Sole caretaker of ill wife. Survives on 45 GEL/month welfare allowance.

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