Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who now lives abroad, issued a sharp statement after Tbilisi City Court ordered his pre-trial detention in connection with the so-called Chorchana case and the events of June 20, 2019. The former PM, now leader of the political party For Georgia, said the ruling fulfils “Bidzina Ivanishvili’s pre-election threat,” claiming the billionaire and ruling party founder had openly announced that “he had already arranged criminal cases at the level of courts.”
Gakharia claimed that the newly initiated charges — which prosecutors argue stem from his unilateral decision in 2019 to install an additional police checkpoint near the occupation line in Chorchana and his alleged role during the June 20 ‘Gavrilov Night’ protest crackdown — are part of a broader campaign to fabricate further accusations ahead of the 2025 elections. The State Security Service and the Prosecutor’s Office have denied political motives, insisting the charges relate to an ongoing investigation into decisions that “endangered national security.”
In his statement, Gakharia said the court ruling marks “a new stage” for both him personally — operating from political exile — and for his party. He argued that this development underscores why For Georgia decided to participate in the October municipal elections and later to enter Parliament, insisting these were “the only correct strategic choices” for safeguarding Georgia’s European path.
Gakharia also issued a stark warning about the state of the political environment, saying that “Georgia’s democratic forces and the West have collectively lost the battle against propaganda.” However, he stressed that the more significant fight — preserving the European idea within Georgia — must not be lost, noting that the consequences would be “serious and long-term” not only for Georgia but for the wider South Caucasus region.
Despite what he describes as an “increasingly repressive environment,” Gakharia emphasised that freedom, democratic values, and pro-European sentiment remain deeply rooted in Georgian society. He called on Western partners to maintain engagement rather than distance themselves, warning that disengagement “would only accelerate the country’s slide into Russia’s sphere of influence.”
Gakharia’s detention order comes as political tensions intensify following a series of high-profile prosecutions of opposition leaders, continued criticism from the EU regarding democratic backsliding, and renewed debates about Georgia’s candidate status and future in the European Union.
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