Family of Prisoner Alleging Sexual Assault Protests Outside Penitentiary Service
By Messenger Staff
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Family members and supporters of convicted prisoner Giorgi Davitadze held a protest outside the Special Penitentiary Service over his allegation that he was sexually assaulted by prison guards and their demand for an investigation into the case.
Davitadze's mother, Irma Davitadze, demanded the resignation of Special Penitentiary Service Director General Giorgi Pataridze, Rustavi No. 6 Prison Director Shota Trapaidze and other staff members whom she accused of involvement in the alleged violence. She said the family had requested an expert examination about a year ago and questioned why the case had not been investigated.
"Let all those responsible for violence resign-Pataridze, Trapaidze, and his executioners as well! This is my demand," she said. Davitadze also said the case was not isolated and alleged that similar incidents were being concealed in prisons.
The protest followed comments by Public Defender Levan Ioseliani, who said that based on footage reviewed by his office, it did not appear that Davitadze had been subjected to the alleged sexual assault.
Davitadze's father, Avtandil Davitadze, criticized Ioseliani over the statement, accusing him of defending the Georgian Dream government rather than his son's rights.
"Levan Ioseliani is defending not the rights of the people and the tortured person, but the rights of Georgian Dream," he said, adding that Ioseliani was no longer fulfilling the duties of the Public Defender.
Giorgi Davitadze, who is serving a sentence at Rustavi No. 6 Penitentiary Facility, previously told the Tbilisi Court of Appeals that prison guards had sexually assaulted him in a de-escalation room. He said several people were involved and that "everything can be seen on the cameras."
The Special Penitentiary Service has denied the allegation, calling it disinformation and saying that "there was no violence of any kind against Davitadze, let alone sexual violence."
Protesters displayed banners outside the Service and wore medical gloves as part of the demonstration.
