Transparency International Georgia: 'Georgia now has 90 political prisoners under PACE criteria'
List of political prisoners in Georgia
According to Transparency International Georgia, there are currently 90 political prisoners in Georgia. The organisation has published a list of their names.
The list was compiled using the criteria set out in Resolution 1900 (2012) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
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How were the cases assessed?
Transparency International Georgia said each case was assessed individually, based on the circumstances of the case, court decisions and international human rights standards.
The organisation said the list is based on legal criteria established by the Council of Europe rather than politically motivated assessments.
Under those criteria, a person may be considered a political prisoner if their detention is linked to:
- violations of fundamental rights;
- detention for political reasons where the alleged act does not constitute a criminal offence;
- a punishment that is clearly disproportionate;
- discriminatory treatment; or
- judicial proceedings that fail to meet the requirements of a fair trial.
The list specifies which of these criteria are considered to apply in each individual case.
“The large number of political prisoners once again demonstrates the existence of politically motivated justice in Georgia and the deterioration of the human rights situation,” Transparency International Georgia said in a statement.
Who is on the list?
The list published by Transparency International includes several high-profile figures, among them journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, the founder of the media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti.
Amaghlobeli was arrested overnight on 11-12 January 2025 in Batumi after being accused of slapping the city’s police chief. The incident followed what her supporters say was an insult by the police officer. She was sentenced to two years in prison.
Another person on the list is opposition politician Elene Khoshtaria, the leader of the Droa party. She was sentenced to 18 months in prison for painting graffiti on an election poster of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.
Opposition politician Levan Khabeishvili, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, was also sentenced to prison. He received a sentence of two years and six months on charges of “promising a bribe to a public official” and “calling for the overthrow of the government”.
Opposition politician Nika Melia, one of the leaders of the Ahali party, is facing several criminal cases. Among them is the so-called government sabotage case, which is still pending and carries the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence.
Singer and activist Paata Burchuladze was arrested over the alleged “failed coup” of 4 October and sentenced to seven years in prison. He was convicted of attempting to seize a strategic facility, organising and leading group violence, and publicly calling for the overthrow of the government.
Poet Zviad Ratiani was sentenced to two years in prison for insulting a police officer.
The full list of political prisoners is available at the link below.
List of political prisoners in Georgia
