The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has initiated criminal prosecution against former Prime Minister and former Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Gakharia, in connection with the June 20–21, 2019 protest events and the Chorchana checkpoint incident near the occupation line with the Tskhinvali region.
At a briefing on Wednesday, Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze announced that Gakharia is charged with organizing intentional grievous bodily harm during the 2019 protest rally outside the Parliament building and abuse of official authority while holding state 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 said.
The charges against Gakharia 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 stems from the “Gavrilov Night” protests, which erupted on June 20, 2019, after Russian MP Sergei Gavrilov addressed Georgia’s Parliament from the Speaker’s chair. What began as a peaceful demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue escalated into violent clashes, with protesters attempting to storm the Parliament building.
Prosecutor’s Office says then–Interior Minister Gakharia ordered special forces to use crowd-control weapons—including rubber bullets and tear gas—without issuing a 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 stated.
Dozens of citizens sustained injuries of varying severity; two protesters lost their eyesight, and five others suffered grievous bodily harm.
The Prosecutor’s Office cited the European Court of Human Rights’ May 7, 2024 ruling on the “June 20 case,” which found that Georgia had violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and called for further investigation and accountability for those responsible for planning and executing the police operation.
The second episode concerns the erection of a police checkpoint near the village of Chorchana on August 24, 2019, when Gakharia was Interior Minister and Secretary of the National Security Council.
Investigators say Gakharia made the decision unilaterally, without consulting the Prime Minister, State Security Service, or the EU Monitoring Mission, and without authorization from the National Security Council.
The Prosecutor’s Office claims that his actions provoked an escalation by the Russian-backed de facto authorities of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), who occupied new positions on Georgian-controlled territory, seizing around 100 hectares of forest and moving 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 announced plans to submit a motion to the Tbilisi City Court seeking pre-trial detention for Gakharia. The investigation into both episodes remains ongoing.
Gakharia, who resigned as Prime Minister in February 2021, later founded and currently leads the For Georgia political party. His office has not yet commented on the charges.
