The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has launched criminal proceedings against former Prime Minister and former Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Gakharia, in connection with two key episodes from 2019 — the June 20–21 protest events, widely known as “Gavrilov Night,” and the Chorchana checkpoint incident near the occupation line with the Tskhinvali region (“South Ossetia”).
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze announced that Gakharia is charged with organizing intentional grievous bodily harm during the 2019 protest outside Parliament and with abuse of official authority while holding public office.
“The charges concern the organization of intentional grievous bodily harm against more than two persons during a protest rally held near the Parliament building, and the abuse of official authority by a person holding state political office,” Gvarakidze stated.
The charges carry a potential sentence of up to 13 years in prison under Articles 25, 117(3)(m), and 333(2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
The case revisits the events of Gavrilov Night, when demonstrations erupted after Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov was allowed to address Georgia’s Parliament from the Speaker’s chair on June 20, 2019. What began as a peaceful rally on Rustaveli Avenue quickly turned violent, with protesters attempting to storm the Parliament building.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, then–Interior Minister Gakharia ordered special forces to use crowd-control weapons—including rubber bullets and tear gas—without prior warning or allowing peaceful demonstrators to disperse.
“He ordered Special Task Force officers to use special means collectively, in parallel mode, without warning and without giving peaceful participants the opportunity to leave the area,” Gvarakidze said.
Dozens of citizens were injured, including two who lost their eyesight and five who sustained grievous bodily harm. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), in a May 7, 2024 ruling on the “June 20 case,” found that Georgia had violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and called for renewed investigations and accountability for those responsible.
Gakharia, however, has denied issuing any such orders to use weapons against protesters on Gavrilov Night, maintaining that his actions as Interior Minister aimed to restore order and prevent further escalation.
The second episode under investigation concerns the Chorchana checkpoint near the occupation line, established on August 24, 2019, while Gakharia was Interior Minister and Secretary of the National Security Council. Prosecutors allege he acted unilaterally, without consulting the Prime Minister, State Security Service, or the EU Monitoring Mission, and without authorization from the National Security Council.
Investigators claim his decision triggered an escalation from the Russian-backed de facto authorities of Tskhinvali, who subsequently occupied new positions on Georgian-controlled territory, seizing roughly 100 hectares of forest and deploying heavy military equipment toward nearby villages.
“Through these actions, Giorgi Gakharia deliberately exceeded his official authority, causing substantial violation of the legitimate interests of society and the state,” Gvarakidze said.
The Prosecutor’s Office has stated it will petition the Tbilisi City Court to impose pre-trial detention on Gakharia. The investigation into both incidents remains ongoing.
Gakharia resigned as Prime Minister in February 2021 and later founded and now leads the opposition ‘For Georgia’ political party.
He is currently residing in Germany, where he has been granted a long-term residence permit. He has stated that he will continue his political work from abroad, focusing on Georgia’s European integration, and that he does not plan to return to Tbilisi in the near future.
Responding to Gvarakidze’s announcement, Giorgi Sharashidze, an MP from the For Georgia party, condemned the prosecution as politically motivated:
“These charges are, of course, entirely absurd — nothing more than political retribution and revenge, something Bidzina Ivanishvili had already signaled before the 2024 parliamentary elections. So none of this came as a surprise; we were prepared. Both the Chorchana case and the June 20 case are clear examples of political retribution, having nothing to do with law or justice — nor will they ever. No one can intimidate us or force us to retreat. It is evident that these charges are intended to hinder us, but they will not succeed.”
The proceedings come as Georgian Dream, the ruling party, continues a series of investigations into former members of its own ranks — a move seen by some analysts as part of an internal reckoning ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections.
By Team GT
