Georgia Indicts Ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia, Seeks Detention Before Trial

Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia

Georgia's Prosecutor General's Office has started a criminal case against former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, now an opposition leader. He could face up to 13 years in prison. The charges relate to two events during his time as Interior Minister (2017–2019): the way the 2019 anti-Russia protests were broken up, and the setting up of a police post near South Ossetia.

2019 Protest Crackdown (‘Gavrilov’s Night’)

The first charge is about what happened on June 20, 2019, in Tbilisi. Protests began after Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov spoke in the Georgian Parliament. Thousands protested, and some tried to enter the building. Police responded by breaking up the crowd forcefully. At least 240 people were hurt, and two lost their sight because of rubber bullets.

The prosecution says Gakharia told officers to use force all at once, without warning or letting peaceful protesters leave, which helped cause the injuries. The Prosecutor General's Office said they sped up the investigation after a May 2024 decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which said Georgia had not properly investigated the crackdown.

Gakharia denies the charges. He told a parliamentary committee that he only allowed water cannons and tear gas, not rubber bullets. He said officers could use rubber bullets on their own to protect themselves.

The Chorchan Police Post

The second charge is about a police post set up in August 2019 in the village of Chorchana, near the South Ossetian line. The prosecution says Gakharia acted alone, not following rules by not talking to then-Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG), or the EU monitors.

The agency says the occupying regime used this as an excuse to take control of Georgian high grounds and about 100 hectares of forest, creating a real risk of armed conflict. Gakharia is accused of going beyond his authority, causing major harm to the lawful interests of society and the state. Gakharia said that everyone knew everything about the post and that it was needed to defend Georgia, but he admitted the SSG disagreed.

Political Situation and Living Abroad

The timing of the legal action has been questioned by critics, since the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party had praised Gakharia and made him Prime Minister in September 2019. Gakharia quit in February 2021, citing disagreements over the arrest of opposition leader Nika Melia. He then created the opposition party, For Georgia.

The Prosecutor General’s Office will ask Tbilisi City Court to detain Gakharia before trial. Gakharia is now living overseas, reportedly with a residence permit in Germany. His party says he is attending political meetings, but many believe he is staying away to avoid prosecution, which he knows could limit his political activity if he returns.

Gakharia's prosecution is happening as the GD party tries to ban three other opposition parties (United National Movement, Coalition for Change, and Strong Georgia - Lelo) via the Constitutional Court. GD did not include Gakharia's For Georgia party in this, pointing to their choice to end their parliamentary boycott. The ruling party had called this boycott sabotage when done by the other parties.