Court maintains detention of Zviad Tsetskhladze and seven others due to accusations of instigating protest-related violence.
Fueled by Political Tensions: Georgia's Prolonged Detention of Protest Organizers
In Tbilisi, city courts have stood firm on keeping Zviad Tsetskhladze and eight companions imprisoned in the aftermath of fiery anti-government protests. Their imprisonment stems from charges of inciting group violence near the parliament, as confirmed by Judge Tamar Mchedlishvili.
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The scheduled hearing to assess the prosecution evidence was restricted due to the remote attendance of lawyer Elguja Avsajanishvili due to health concerns. As a consequence, no witnesses were examined, and the session primarily focused on the extended detention issue.
Facing strong opposition, Prosecutor Vazha Todua upheld the necessity for the suspects' continued detention, citing concerns of the accused fleeing or engaging in fresh criminal activities. On the other hand, defense lawyers and human rights crusaders advocated for their release or the use of bail, suggesting alternative measures like electronic surveillance instead.
Three of the imprisoned-Tsetskhladze, Vepkhia Kasradze, and Vasil Kadzelashvili-have been indicted for orchestrating and spearheading group violence, facing potential sentences of 6 to 9 years. The other five-Giorgi Gorgadze, Irakli Miminoshvili, Insaf Aliyev, Tornike Goshadze, and Nikoloz Javakhishvili-have been implicated for participating in group violence, risking sentences of 4 to 6 years.
A Controversial Crackdown on Pro-European Activities
As per May 2025 records, Zviad Tsetskhladze and his cohorts continue to remain incarcerated following the turbulent protests in Georgia. The incriminated individuals, which include Vasil Kadzelashvili, Vepkhia Kasradze, Irakli Miminoshvili, Insaf Aliev, Tornike Goshadze, Nikoloz Javakhishvili, and Giorgi Gorgadze, are confronted with charges under Article 225 of Georgia's Criminal Code for instigating, leading, or taking part in group violence[5].
Pivotal Details:- Charges: Tsetskhladze, Kasradze, and Kadzelashvili face up to 9 years imprisonment for instigating violence, while others see 2–5 years for involvement in the chaos[4][5].- Contextual Insights: Judge Nino Galustashvili presides over the substantive hearings involving an extensive roster of 11 detainees (including additional cases not widely reported)[2][5].- Third-Party Analysis: Transparency International Georgia (TI-Georgia) alleges the charges are politically motivated, citing flawed evidence and lack of credible proof to convincingly link defendants with specific violent acts[5].- Brotherly Impact: Over 50 people have been charged in relation to protests challenging the Georgian Dream government’s decision to postpone EU accession efforts until 2028[2][5].
TI-Georgia's April 2025 report insinuates that the case relies on inconsistent witness testimonies and social media activity screenshots, suggesting the prosecutions are in line with the ruling-party narrative that characterizes protesters as destructive agitators[5].
- The defense lawyers and human rights advocates have argued for the release or the use of bail for Zviad Tsetskhladze and his companions in Tbilisi, suggesting alternative measures such as electronic surveillance instead of prolonged detention.
- Judge Nino Galustashvili, presiding over the substantive hearings, is overseeing the case of 11 detainees, including Zviad Tsetskhladze, Vepkhia Kasradze, Vasil Kadzelashvili, and others.
- Transparency International Georgia (TI-Georgia) has expressed concerns that the charges against Tsetskhladze and his cohorts are politically motivated, citing flawed evidence and a lack of credible proof to convincingly link the defendants with specific violent acts.
- As per the allegations by TI-Georgia, the prosecution case against Zviad Tsetskhladze and his colleagues relies heavily on inconsistent witness testimonies and screenshots from social media activity, supporting the narrative that portrays protesters as destructive agitators.
