Khoshtaria Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison Over Banner Defacement
By Messenger Staff
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the Droa party, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison by Giorgi Arevadze of the Tbilisi City Court on March 24.
The court found Khoshtaria guilty of property damage for writing "Russian Dream" on a campaign banner of Kakha Kaladze, the Georgian Dream candidate for mayor in September 2025.
Khoshtaria was detained on September 15 after the incident. Prosecutors said she damaged three campaign banners, causing total losses of 570 GEL. She was charged under an article covering damage to another person's property resulting in substantial harm, which carries penalties ranging from a fine to up to five years in prison.
She was granted bail on September 17 but refused to post it and remained in custody. She said at the time that paying bail would mean taking part in what she called a farce.
In court, Judge Arevadze said there were no mitigating circumstances. He cited Khoshtaria's prior administrative cases, saying she had been fined 16 times and had not paid, and that she had refused to post bail, compensate for damages, or admit guilt.
Khoshtaria said her action was in solidarity with student Megi Diasamidze, who has been on trial over a similar case.
The case has drawn criticism from opposition groups and some civil society actors, who say the punishment is disproportionate and politically motivated.
Khoshtaria is one of several opposition figures detained in the past year. Nika Melia and former defense minister Irakli Okruashvili have also faced prison sentences in separate cases.
She also faces charges in a separate case opened in November. Prosecutors accuse her of sabotage, providing material resources for sabotage, and aiding a foreign state in hostile activities. The charges carry possible sentences of seven to fifteen years.
Earlier in March, Droa joined eight other parties in an opposition alliance calling for the removal of the ruling Georgian Dream party led by Bidzina Ivanishvili.
On March 12, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for Khoshtaria's release and that of others it described as political prisoners.
