Prosecutor Says Opposition Figures Had No Information on Jorbenadze Death
By Messenger Staff
Monday, September 7, 2026
Georgia's Prosecutor's Office said opposition politicians Khatia Dekanoidze and Tamaz Datunashvili gave investigators no information about the death of human rights defender Lazare Jorbenadze when questioned by a magistrate judge.
Prosecutor Medea Tsiramua said the two had been summoned because of public statements they had made following a letter from former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, who is serving a prison sentence.
According to Tsiramua, both told the court they had learned about Jorbenadze from Gharibashvili's letter and had no information about his death.
"Neither of the aforementioned witnesses was able to provide the investigation with any kind of information regarding the fact of Lazare Jorbenadze's suicide," Tsiramua told reporters.
The Prosecutor's Office has said its investigation established that Jorbenadze died by suicide after investigators questioned members of his family and his spouse. The investigation was nevertheless expanded to include people who had made public comments about the case.
Gharibashvili raised questions about Jorbenadze's death in a letter published from prison. He asked what the "real reason" for the death had been and said unanswered questions remained about several suicides that occurred during the period of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and senior Georgian Dream figure Mamuka Mdinaradze.
Tsiramua said Gharibashvili had been questioned in relation to Jorbenadze's death but had not provided investigators with information supporting any alternative account.
"He possesses no information of any kind regarding Lazare Jorbenadze's suicide. He has not provided any authentic information regarding the fact of the suicide," she said.
Asked whether Gharibashvili could face charges for making a false denunciation, Tsiramua said no decision had been made and that the matter would depend on the evidence gathered during the investigation.
"In a criminal case, a summarizing decision is made on the basis of the evidence and the investigative and procedural actions carried out," she said.
Dekanoidze, a leader of the opposition United National Movement, questioned why she had been summoned and whether investigators also planned to question Kobakhidze and Mdinaradze, whose names she said appeared in Gharibashvili's letter.
"My question was whether they intend to question Kobakhidze and Mdinaradze, the two people whose surnames appear in former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili's letter," Dekanoidze said after the hearing.
She said she had never mentioned Jorbenadze publicly and had no information about his death.
"The greatest absurdity is that I have never mentioned this person's first or last name anywhere," she said.
Dekanoidze accused the authorities of using the questioning to generate political controversy and said the case reflected divisions within the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Alliance of Patriots leader Irma Inashvili, who was also questioned, said she likewise had no specific information about Jorbenadze's death.
"I should not have been a participant in this questioning," Inashvili said. "The investigative bodies knew from the very beginning that neither I, nor those who are being questioned now or were questioned yesterday, possessed any specific information on the episode of Lazare Jorbenadze's suicide."
Inashvili said investigators should instead examine other claims raised by Gharibashvili, including his reference to a February issue of the newspaper Asaval-Dasavali that he said had been sent to him by Kobakhidze and Mdinaradze.
The issue contained an interview with Jorbenadze about the David Gareja dispute, Inashvili said. She called for investigators to question the people who allegedly sent the newspaper, as well as Kobakhidze and Mdinaradze.
"What connection does this suicide, or possible suicide, have with the article-interview that was published in Asaval-Dasavali?" Inashvili said.
The Prosecutor's Office has not said that Kobakhidze or Mdinaradze are suspects in the investigation into Jorbenadze's death.
Ten people have been summoned for questioning based on public statements related to the case, including Nika Gvaramia, Inashvili, Nanuka Zhorzholiani, Dekanoidze, Datunashvili, Gia Khukhashvili, Giorgi Liluashvili, Zaza Davitaia, Ermile Nemsadze and Giorgi Gigauri.
Tsiramua said the investigation remained ongoing and that other people could be questioned if investigators found they had relevant information.
"The investigation continues," she said. "If there is a need to question anyone, the investigative body will question them and carry out the corresponding investigative action."
