Nino Datashvili, the activist detained on charges of assaulting a court security officer, is expected to be transferred for psychiatric evaluation today or tomorrow, her lawyer Tamar Gabodze told Interpressnews. Gabodze plans to visit Datashvili later today at Rustavi’s No. 5 Penitentiary Facility.
“I’m on my way to meet Nino Datashvili. I’ll be with her in a few minutes. It’s unclear whether the transfer will take place today, as the court set a 30-day window for execution of the decision, and today marks the fifth day. We assume it could happen today or tomorrow,” Gabodze explained, noting that the defense has appealed the court’s decision, but has not yet received a ruling from the appellate court.
Gabodze says today’s meeting with her client will focus on Datashvili’s current condition and the strategy for her legal defense.
“We’ve been requesting a spinal examination and an MRI for a long time. The penitentiary service responded that Nino is on the waiting list, but so far, the procedure has not been carried out. I intend to clarify this issue first, and then we’ll move forward with matters related to her defense,” she stated.
The decision to order a psychiatric evaluation has sparked controversy. Datashvili’s legal team says the prosecution requested the examination “completely without basis,” and the court approved the motion.
In response, the Prosecutor’s Office stated that the defense itself had submitted medical documents indicating psycho-emotional lability as a comorbid condition, making the evaluation reasonable. However, Gabodze countered that psycho-emotional lability is a symptom—not a diagnosis—and cannot justify the need for psychiatric assessment.
Datashvili was arrested on June 20 in connection with an incident that took place on June 9 at the Tbilisi City Court. She is charged under Article 353^1, Part 3 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which refers to assault on a public official during the performance of official duties.
The charges carry a penalty ranging from a fine to imprisonment for a term of 4 to 7 years.
