The Tbilisi City Court has sentenced Georgian poet Zviad Ratiani to two years in prison, following a ruling by Judge Giorgi Gelashvili.
Initially accused of attacking a police officer, Ratiani’s charge was later amended to the first part of Article 353 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to resisting or obstructing law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties.
The court found Ratiani guilty under the amended charge and imposed a two-year custodial sentence.
The case stems from the October 4 events in Tbilisi, during which several protesters, opposition figures, and civic activists were detained. Law enforcement agencies have continued arrests and court proceedings related to those incidents over the past week.
Zviad Ratiani, a celebrated poet and translator, has previously been involved in high-profile cases concerning alleged police misconduct. His detention has sparked a wave of public discussion and criticism from literary and civil circles, with some viewing the case as politically motivated.
Neither Ratiani’s defense team nor the Ministry of Internal Affairs has yet issued a detailed statement regarding the court’s latest decision.
