Prepared by Messenger Staff
TI Georgia Says Activist's Conviction Shows Political Retaliation
Transparency International Georgia says the conviction of activist Saba Skhvitaridze is a clear case of political retaliation and evidence of systemic failures in the country's justice system. The group argues that Skhvitaridze, like many others involved in anti-government protests, was punished for his civic activism.
On September 3, 2025, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced him to two years in prison for intentionally causing minor bodily harm. TI Georgia says the ruling is based on false testimonies and unverified video material and claims the evidence does not show that Skhvitaridze committed the offense. The organization notes that he is known as a member of the political party New and has been active in anti-government and anti-Russian demonstrations.
Prosecutors initially accused him of injuring a police officer during official duties, a charge that carries seven to eleven years in prison. TI Georgia calls that accusation an abuse of the criminal process and says the later reduced charge was equally unfounded.
The group states that the court ignored basic fair trial standards, including the presumption of innocence, impartial evaluation of evidence, and the requirement to rule in favor of the accused in cases of doubt. It also says allegations of police violence against Skhvitaridze were disregarded.
According to TI Georgia, the conviction relied on contradictory police testimonies, a photo-based identification, and a social media video whose authenticity was never confirmed. The organization maintains that the person in the video is not Skhvitaridze and that defense witnesses who supported his innocence were dismissed.
TI Georgia said that "the extent of falsehood allowed by the police, the prosecution, and the court indicates that Saba Skhvitaridze is a prisoner of conscience."
Zourabichvili: 2025 Marked by 'Systemic Repression' and a Drift Toward a 'Russian Totalitarian Regime'
The 5th President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, delivered a stark assessment of Georgia's human rights situation during a briefing, declaring that the past year was defined by repression, widespread violations, and the erosion of democratic norms.
Zourabichvili called 2025 "a shameful year for those who rule the country," saying the government is attempting to make Georgia resemble "a typical Russian totalitarian regime with all its characteristics." She linked her remarks to International Human Rights Day and highlighted several developments that she said illustrate the magnitude of the crisis.
She said that "the BBC journalistic investigation completes the picture of this terrible year," referencing the broadcaster's reporting on the alleged use of hazardous chemical agents during last year's protests.
According to Zourabichvili, fifty-nine people she described as prisoners of conscience spent nine months in pre-trial detention and later received sentences ranging from two to six years. She added that nearly 80 percent of pro-European party leaders are in prison, along with those detained after the events of October 4.
She said that about 1,200 civil servants were dismissed for expressing support for European integration, that 400 journalists experienced violence while covering demonstrations, and that twenty regional and online media outlets closed during the year. She also said citizens were "suffocated by fines," many of which amounted to thousands or tens of thousands of lari.
"This year was a year of systemic repression, systematic violation of human rights and oppression," she said. "A year of violence, arrests, violation of human dignity, injustice. We still need to establish the facts about the poisoning, but this also completes the picture of this terrible year."
Zourabichvili stated that the authorities bear responsibility for what she described as the country's severe decline in political freedoms and human rights protections.
