#Civil

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Prosecutors Open ‘Treason’ Probe Into UNM Member Baramidze’s Remarks on Prisoner Exchanges During Abkhazia War

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Georgia has launched an investigation into “treason” and “sabotage” over remarks made by Giorgi Baramidze, a member of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) and a former interior and defense minister, about prisoner exchange during the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia. In an August 7 statement, the Prosecutor General’s Office said the investigation was launched following a complaint from the State Service for Veterans Affairs concerning Baramidze’s remarks on The Birth of Georgia, a YouTube program hosted by opposition Girchi party leader Iago Khvichia. The investigation is being conducted under Article 307 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which covers “high treason,” and Article 318, which covers “sabotage” and carries two to four years in prison. Controversial Remarks The case stems from Baramidze’s appearance on a more than three-and-a-half-hour-long episode of The Birth of Georgia, published on YouTube on July 18, in which he discussed his role during the war in Abkhazia and efforts to secure the release of Georgian prisoners. At the time, Baramidze was a Georgian parliament member. Recalling the capture of Georgian fighters following the fall of Gagra, a city in Abkhazia, Baramidze said he decided to travel to Sokhumi with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross and eventually entered a detention facility in Gudauta, where he met de facto Abkhaz officials and helped arrange the release of Georgian prisoners. Baramidze said the exchange process later stalled because the Georgian side had no prisoners to offer in return. “They [the separatists] stopped giving us prisoners, because we didn’t have prisoners. Our side was not taking prisoners,” he said. Asked by Khvichia why, Baramidze replied: “They [our side] were shooting [them].” Khvichia then asked why this had been necessary. Baramidze responded this was not necessary, but that “when your cousin is killed, your brother is killed, your friend is killed, it is very hard to hold back emotion in that situation.” Asked whether the same was happening on the other side, Baramidze said there was “discipline” among the separatist forces, attributing it to “Russian discipline” and saying they were taking prisoners. He also recalled negotiating exchanges with Beslan Kobakhia, whom he described as his de facto counterpart from the separatist side, and said he had personally gone to the front line on several occasions to prevent captured individuals from being shot so they could later be exchanged. Baramidze, UNM Defend Remarks A day before the Prosecutor General’s Office announced the investigation, Baramidze published a video statement on Facebook, saying parts of his interview had been circulated “out of context” and misunderstood. Baramidze said he had been describing the early weeks of the war, when he became involved in prisoner exchanges and found that the Georgian side had no prisoners to exchange. “I said that the other side was taking prisoners, and we did not have prisoners because our side was shooting — that’s the word I used,” he said, stressing, however, that “shooting” did not mean that “our state and the Georgian army were shooting them,” but rather that Georgian forces were not taking prisoners during a “mortal, life-and-death struggle with the enemy.” Baramidze also argued that the practice could not be attributed to the Georgian state or army, which he said “did not actually exist at the time,” and did not constitute a crime. In a separate Facebook post, Baramidze said his account was truthful and could not harm Georgia’s national interests, arguing that Russia’s aggression and ethnic cleansing in Georgia had already been condemned by international organizations. Following the Prosecutor’s Office announcement, the UNM condemned the investigation, calling it politically motivated and a “slanderous and absurd case” serving “the political goals of the [Bidzina] Ivanishvili regime and the objectives of Russian propaganda.” “This fabricated case is yet another confirmation of this regime’s Russian nature,” the party said in a statement, adding that it would oppose what it considers any illegal action against Baramidze “through legal and political means.” Also Read: * 07/08/2026 – Politicians, International Partners Comment on August War Anniversary

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Politicians, International Partners Comment on August War Anniversary

August 7, 2026, marks the 18th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Georgia. The war, which lasted approximately five days, claimed the lives of more than 200 Georgian soldiers and over 300 civilians, and displaced thousands. Eighteen years on, the trauma of the conflict continues to resonate deeply across Georgian society. In the aftermath of the war, Russia formally recognized the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia regions as independent states and significantly expanded its military presence in both territories. August remains a tragic chapter in Georgia’s modern history. The Russian occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) persists to this day. Grave human rights violations against the small remaining ethnic Georgian population are widespread, as are the illegal processes of “borderization,” along with frequent abductions and killings. * Russo-Georgian War Chronicles: August 7, 2008 * European Court Verdict into Georgia vs. Russia Case over 2008 War While many in Georgia and the West mark the war anniversary on August 7, Georgian Dream leaders, who have increasingly blamed the previous United National Movement (UNM) government for the conflict, typically commemorate the event on August 8. Civil.ge compiled statements from local politicians, embassies and international partners on the August war anniversary. --- Remarks by Opposition Parties/Politicians Ex-Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s For Georgia Party: “18 years ago, Russia openly invaded Georgia and occupied the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. We paid a heavy price defending our homeland against the aggressor and pay tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives. Unfortunately, the aggression continues to this day — Georgia’s territories remain occupied, while Moscow has accelerated the process of de facto annexation of the occupied Tskhinvali region. Against the backdrop of these alarming developments, the [Georgian] Dream government has chosen to blame its own country instead of mobilizing the international community, while responding to the ongoing annexation processes with criminal silence. It is cynical that, on the anniversary of the 2008 war, [Georgian] Dream representatives are more concerned about so-called ‘Russophobia’ than about the occupation and their own citizens who are victims of it. We call on our international community to firmly support Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and condemn the ongoing annexation processes in the occupied territories. Such support is all the more important today amid [Georgian] Dream’s collaborationist policies.” Tazo Datunashvili, General Secretary of Lelo-Strong Georgia: “We are living in an era of betrayal, when the Prime Minister threatens the citizens of Georgia with imprisonment for not loving Georgia’s enemy – and you should not love Georgia’s enemy… Russia is the enemy… Russia is the reason the lives of the best Georgians were cut short at the age of 20, 25, 30 — those who gave their lives for their homeland. This is a day of memory, this is a day of remembrance.” Gigi Tsereteli, leader of European Georgia: “These heroes will always live on in our history, in our consciousness. Today the war continues by other means – this is a hybrid war that Russia continues to wage, one for which it is unacceptable that Georgia exists and develops as an independent country.” Jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili: “…No matter how many centuries pass, future generations of Georgians will remember that we defended our dignity and freedom, pushed back against a ruthless empire, convinced the world we were worthy of its support, and implemented reforms unprecedented on an international scale, that after the heaviest of blows we got back on our feet, continued rapid development, and created the precedent of a truly successful Georgia. Antsukhelidze and the heroes of Shindisi are no longer with us, I will no longer be here, and today’s generations will pass on, but the idea of an eternal Georgia will endure with many transformations – Georgia that is unimaginably brave, talented, and one that, even when no one expects it, rises to its feet every time and emerges victorious from utterly hopeless situations.” Levan Tsutskiridze, Chair of Freedom Square: “Today marks 18 years since Russia invaded Georgia. This [Russia] is a real Global War Party [referring to Georgian Dream conspiracy on ‘deep state’], a genuine enemy of Georgian statehood, which sows destruction, death, and misfortune everywhere it sets foot. We must not bow our heads to such an enemy, nor hide somewhere, as Georgian Dream does. Instead, we must confront it heroically, with courage and without bending, just as Giorgi Antsukhelidze [Georgian national hero who was tortured to death in 2008] did.” Embassies/International Reactions U.S. Embassy Tbilisi: “Today marks the eighteenth anniversary of Russia’s military aggression against Georgia. The United States remains deeply concerned over Russia’s continuing occupation of Georgian territory and condemns the killings, kidnappings, and other abuses that have occurred under Russia’s ongoing occupation. We express our solidarity with the people of Georgia and reaffirm our commitment to Georgia’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and underline the need for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.” Joint Statement by France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom Foreign ministries spokespersons: “August 7th is a date when we remember the grave consequences of Russian imperialism. On this day in 2008 the Russian Federation took military action against Georgia, further damaging Georgia’s territorial integrity by occupying the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. 18 years after the Russian aggression, we reaffirm our full support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. We welcome Republic of Naoero’s decision to withdraw its recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We urge states that have established diplomatic relations with these entities to follow this example… We are concerned about the latest developments in South Ossetia. The “Agreement on Deepening Alliance and Cooperation” signed on 9 May 2026 between Moscow and the de facto authorities of South Ossetia further violates Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in clear breach of international law. This document, as well as the appointment of a Russian citizen to head the region raise concerns on a possible full-fledged annexation of the region, which would not go unanswered… Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Eighteen years ago, Russian forces brutally invaded sovereign Georgia, violating international law as part of Moscow’s imperial policy aimed at subjugating other nations and peoples. The 2008 aggression and occupation of Georgian land, as well as relentless creeping annexation, directly paved the way for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine remains steadfast in supporting Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We will never accept Russia’s illegal occupation of Georgian and Ukrainian lands, nor the “Russian world” that brings only ruin, poverty, and human rights abuses wherever it goes. We call on the international community to increase pressure on Moscow, enforce strict sanctions, and ensure full accountability for Russian crimes. Lasting European peace demands the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and the full restoration of international law.” Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “On the 18th anniversary of Russia’s aggression against Georgia, Latvia reaffirms its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and strongly condemns the occupation of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Latvia will continue to support the Georgian people in resisting the Russian occupying forces and their allies.” Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “18 years ago, Russia launched its war of aggression against Georgia, occupying the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. Lithuania condemns the ongoing unlawful occupation of these regions and remains steadfast in its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Already 18 years ago, Russia launched its war against Georgia, demonstrating its contempt for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours. Estonia stands with the people of Georgia and remains steadfast in its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Russia’s continued occupation of parts of Georgia and its full-scale war against Ukraine make clear that the Kremlin continues to rely on force to pursue its ambitions. We reject any attempt to alter internationally recognised borders by force.” Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “Today, 18 years after Russia started its war against Georgia in 2008, Sweden reaffirms its steadfast support for Georgia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Russia’s ongoing occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia violates international law.” Poland’s Embassy in Tbilisi: “Eighteen years ago, Russia attacked Georgia. On the anniversary of the aggression, we stand in solidarity with the Georgian people, support Georgia’s territorial integrity, and condemn Russia’s annexation of the separatist regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.” Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “In August 2008, Russian troops invaded Georgia. 18 years on, the occupation persists. In Georgia as in Ukraine, we once again call on Russia to end its blatant violation of international law and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours.” More to follow… Also Read: * 04/08/2026 – Kobakhidze Accuses Opposition, Critics of Ignoring 2008 War, Turning ‘Russophobic’ Only in 2022 * 11/08/2025 – Kobakhidze: UNM ‘Treason’ in August War Doesn’t Justify Russian Occupation * 07/08/2025 – Politicians, International Partners Comment on August War Anniversary

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Davit Koldari, Convicted Over 2024 Spring Protests, Leaves Prison After Serving Sentence

Davit Koldari, convicted in connection with the spring 2024 protests against Georgia’s foreign agents law, left prison on August 7 after serving two years and three months on a property-damage charge. “Davit Koldari was thrown out of Laituri Prison at 6 a.m. He was standing alone outside the prison, probably so that we would not be there to greet him and would not have footage,” activist Natia Gabrava wrote on Facebook, noting that his lawyer had been told the previous day that he would be released between 10:00 and 10:30. Prosecutors accused Koldari of climbing onto a patrol police car and smashing its windshield with his foot during the April 16, 2024 protest rally in Tbilisi near parliament. According to media reports, Judge Mikheil Jinjolia convicted him on February 4, 2025, under Article 187 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which covers “damage or destruction of property which has resulted in substantial damage” and carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, among other non-custodial penalties. Koldari is the fourth protester convicted over the spring 2024 protests to leave prison. In May, Giorgi Kuchuashvili, convicted of resisting a police officer, was released after serving two years in prison. In November 2025, Omar Okribelashvili and Saba Meparishvili were released after serving 18 months on property-damage charges related to the same protests. Five other protesters remain in prison in connection with the 2024 spring protests against the foreign agents law. Giorgi Okmelashvili, Irakli Megvinetukhutsesi, and Pridon Bubuteishvili were convicted on protest-related charges, while Ucha Abashidze and Mariam Iashvili, who were also arrested in connection with the spring 2024 protests, were convicted of illegally obtaining and storing private-life secrets. Also Read: * 21/07/2026 – TI-Georgia Lists 91 People as ‘Political Prisoners’ Under PACE Criteria * 24/06/2026 – Four More Given Multi-Year Jail Sentences, Twelve Get Reduced Terms, One Fined in October 4 Trials * Repression in Numbers

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Georgia Says It Turned Back Azerbaijani Vehicle Bound for Russia Carrying EU-Origin Goods Under Sanctions

Georgia’s Revenue Service said on August 6 that an Azerbaijani-registered vehicle was turned back to Turkey after customs officers found it was transporting sanctioned goods of European origin in transit to Russia. The vehicle entered Georgia through the Sarpi customs checkpoint on July 24. While the Revenue Service did not specify the nature of the European-origin cargo, it said the vehicle, bound for Russia, was turned back to Turkey “within the framework of enforcing sanctions imposed by the European Union.” Several hours later, the vehicle returned to Sarpi with a certificate of origin listing Turkey as the cargo’s country of origin. After becoming suspicious, customs officers conducted a partial inspection and found factory labels identifying Germany and Croatia as the goods’ countries of origin, the Revenue Service said. It added that this indicated “possible document forgery” and an “attempt to transport sanctioned goods” while bypassing customs controls, and that the case materials had been handed over to the Finance Ministry’s Investigation Service for further action. Hours before the Revenue Service issued its statement, Azerbaijani media outlet Report separately said that several Azerbaijani truck drivers transiting through Georgia had been stranded at Georgian customs checkpoints without an official explanation for the delays. “The drivers say they have been waiting for a long time mainly at the Sarpi and Red Bridge border crossing points, as well as the Customs Clearance Center in Tbilisi,” the report said. Report cited several truck drivers who said their vehicles had been held in Georgia for weeks, in some cases for more than a month, without specifying their planned destinations. The outlet also said the Azerbaijani Embassy in Georgia told it that “the incident has been taken under control” and had sent a diplomatic inquiry to Georgia’s Foreign Ministry. Georgia’s Revenue Service separately told local Interpressnews that cargo movement through all checkpoints was proceeding “without disruption,” while noting that it was “looking into this case,” apparently referring to the allegations reported by Report. Similar allegations were made in December by Azerbaijani government-aligned media outlets, which said that Georgia was deliberately obstructing Azerbaijani trucks at the border. Also Read: * 24/07/2026 – MFA ‘Regrets’ EU Decision to Conditionally Include Kulevi Refinery in Russia Sanctions Package, ‘Hopes’ for Review * 23/07/2026 – EU Conditionally Includes Georgia’s Kulevi Oil Refinery in 21st Russia Sanctions Package * 12/01/2026 – Revenue Service Stresses Georgia’s Sanctions Compliance Over Russian-Origin Oil Shipment

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Bucharest Voices ‘Firm Disagreement’ Over Romanian Band’s Planned Performance in Occupied Abkhazia

Romania’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its “firm disagreement” with Romanian band Morandi’s planned August 7 performance in Sokhumi in the Russia-occupied Abkhazia region, reaffirming its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “The Romanian MFA expresses its firm disagreement regarding the Morandi band’s performance planned for August 7 in Sukhumi in Georgia (in the Abkhazia separatist region),” the ministry said in a post on X on August 6. “Remaining steadfast in its non-recognition policy, Romania firmly reaffirms its unwavering support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders,” it added. The Romanian MFA expresses its firm disagreement regarding the Morandi’s band performance planned for August 7 in Sukhumi in Georgia (in the Abkhazia separatist region). Remaining steadfast in its non-recognition policy, Romania firmly reaffirms its unwavering support for…— Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania 🇷🇴 (@MAERomania) August 6, 2026 Morandi is a Romanian pop duo formed in 2004 by Marius Moga and Randi. On August 2, it performed in Batumi on Georgia’s Black Sea coast. “Sokhumi, against all odds, we are coming,” the band wrote on a picture posted on Instagram on August 5. Also Read: * 15/07/2026 – Batumi Concerts of Russian Pop Duo t.A.T.u., Ukrainian-Russian Singer Ani Lorak Canceled

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Detained Hungarian Journalist László Róbert Mézes to Leave Georgia Voluntarily, Lawyer Says

Hungarian journalist and activist László Róbert Mézes, who was detained by migration authorities in Tbilisi on August 5, will leave Georgia voluntarily before the court hearing, local media reported, citing his lawyer. “László has decided to leave Georgia voluntarily. There will be no court proceedings,” Georgian lawyer Marika Arevadze wrote on Facebook on August 6, adding that he is expected to speak about the details “once possible.” RFE/RL’s Georgian Service, citing Mézes’ lawyer Tornike Janelidze, reported that if he leaves the country voluntarily within 48 hours of his detention, migration police officers will take him to the airport and the case will not be reviewed by a court. The lawyer expects the Border Police to impose a fine on Mézes and ban him from re-entering Georgia for a certain period. Mézes, who has lived in Georgia and actively covered anti-government protests, was detained on the evening of August 5 by officers of the Interior Ministry’s Migration Department. The ministry told Civil.ge that he remained in the country “without legal grounds” and had overstayed his permitted period of stay. Arevadze, who first reported his detention, said Mézes was staying in Georgia legally. The journalist, who has earlier also contributed to Civil.ge, has been a fierce critic of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and a supporter of current PM Peter Magyar. Also Read: * 09/06/2026 – Deported Journalist Afgan Sadigov Arrested After Baku ‘Resumes’ Criminal Case, Lawyer Says * 05/04/2026 – Georgian Court Rules to Deport Journalist Afgan Sadigov to Azerbaijan After Late-Night Arrest

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ComCom Fines Pro-Government POSTV For Violating ‘Impartiality’ Principles

Georgia’s Communications Commission (ComCom), the state media regulator, has fined pro-government POSTV GEL 2,500 (about USD 950) for violating “impartiality” principles, marking the first known such fine against a pro-Georgian Dream channel. ComCom said on August 6 that the fine followed June 22–23 monitoring, which found POSTV’s news broadcasts disseminating “personal opinions” and failing to present “facts with due accuracy” as required by law. The regulator did not specify the details of the coverage at issue, citing only the country’s Broadcasting Law, which prohibits broadcasters from covering news and certain public-political programs based on “personal attitudes or opinions.” Although ComCom fined opposition-leaning channels Formula TV in May and TV Pirveli in June by the same amounts, the latest case marks the first time the state regulator, widely accused of serving the ruling party’s interests, has penalized a pro-Georgian Dream channel. ComCom noted that the fine against POSTV followed a written warning issued, apparently referring to its April decision to warn four channels — pro-government Imedi TV and POSTV and opposition-leaning Formula TV and TV Pirveli — over violations of impartiality principles under 2025 amendments to the Broadcasting Law that authorized it to regulate broadcast content. POSTV, along with Imedi TV, was sanctioned by the United Kingdom in February over “Russian disinformation.” Also Read: * 16/04/2026 – Disputed Parliament Approves New ComCom Member with Imedi Background * 06/03/2026 – Slamming UK Sanctions, ComCom Warns Stricter Content Regulation of Georgian Broadcasters * 29/01/2026 – Ex-Georgian Dream MP Goga Gulordava Elected Chair of Communications Commission

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Opposition Politician Nika Melia Gets Another ‘Contempt of Court’ Conviction

Jailed opposition politician Nika Melia received another conviction on August 6, as Tbilisi City Court Judge Nino Elieshvili found him guilty of “contempt of court,” involving the alleged “verbal assault” of Judge Tornike Kochkiani. Melia, co-chair of the opposition Ahali party and one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, has been in custody since May 2025. In the latest verdict, the court handed him another 18-month jail term, which is set to be absorbed into his existing sentence, according to his lawyer Giorgi Kondakhishvili, who said Melia is expected to leave prison in late December this year “if there are no new surprises in the future.” Melia was first found guilty in June 2025 and sentenced to eight months in prison for defying the controversial parliamentary commission tasked with examining the alleged crimes committed by former officials. In November 2025, he was found guilty of “contempt of court” for splashing water at Judge Irakli Shvangiradze and sentenced to 18 months in prison. The latest conviction will not add time to his sentence. However, Melia is also among eight opposition figures charged with sabotage-related crimes, which carry a potential sentence of two to four years in prison. The court had been expected to deliver its verdict in the case in August, but the hearing was adjourned until the fall. Also Read: * 20/06/2025 – Prosecutors File New Charge Against Nika Melia * 30/05/2025 – Opposition Calls Nika Melia’s Detention “Abduction,” Draws Condemnation Abroad * 29/05/2025 – Opposition Leader Nika Melia Detained

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SSSG Opens ‘Sabotage’ Probe Into Alleged Online Campaign Portraying Georgia as ‘Unfavorable’ to Russian Tourists

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) launched a “sabotage” investigation into what it alleges is a “discrediting information campaign” on social media platforms involving fake “bot accounts” aimed at creating a “false perception” that Russian tourists face an “unfavorable environment” in Georgia. Announcing the launch of the probe at an August 5 briefing, Emzar Gagnidze, director of the SSSG’s Anti-Corruption Agency, said the campaign is “controlled from a foreign country and supported from Georgia,” involves foreign-registered bot accounts “across various social platforms,” and is aimed at “harming Georgia’s economic interests.” According to him, several such fake accounts on X posted disinformation on various issues, “including claims that Georgian citizens allegedly left tourists from the Russian Federation alone in the forest or deliberately contaminated food ordered by them in Georgian restaurants.” Gagnidze said such “false information” was later spread “in a coordinated manner, over a specific time interval” by an online media outlet registered in a foreign country, which he did not name but said has an audience of “many millions.” The investigation is underway under Article 318 of Georgia’s Criminal Code on sabotage, which covers “obstructing the normal functioning of, or damaging/destroying, a state enterprise or other important facilities to create a threat to Georgia’s state interests,” and carries a prison sentence of up to four years. Gagnidze said that measures are taken to determine the “organizers and participants of the disinformation campaign, its possible sources of funding, the mechanisms used to spread the information, and its goals.” He added that “any action directed by external or internal forces aimed at undermining Georgia’s national interests, destabilizing state institutions, violating the constitutional order, or damaging national security will be met with an appropriate legal response.” The briefing comes as Russian citizens remain the largest group of international visitors to Georgia. According to the National Statistics Office (Geostat), visitors from Russia accounted for 25.1% (328,900) of all international visitors in the second quarter of 2026, while Russian citizens also recorded the highest number of visits during the period, at 380,100. Also Read: * 21/07/2026 – Georgian Man Arrested After Hitting Tourist Woman in Telavi Hotel Released on Bail * 30/04/2026 – Georgia Records Slight Drop in International Visits in Q1 2026, with Russia Leading by Visitor Share

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Two Minor Girls Arrested as Giga Avaliani Case Widens

Two teenage girls, Nia Imnadze and Anastasia Beruashvili, were arrested late on August 5 as the prosecution further expanded the circle of minors implicated in the high-profile murder case of 28-year-old tutor Giga Avaliani, who died after spending three weeks in a coma following an assault near his apartment block in Tbilisi in October 2025. Imnadze, reportedly 16, was arrested at her family’s apartment in a highly emotional scene. In a video captured by her lawyer, her parents are seen verbally confronting police officers as they dispute the allegations against their daughter, while officers said they were acting on a court order. Imnadze was reportedly hospitalized shortly afterward and transferred to a temporary detention cell the following afternoon. Imnadze and Beruashvili are reportedly the girlfriends of Aleksandre Gabashvili and Giorgi Rikadze, respectively, two of the main defendants in Avaliani’s case, who were sentenced in April to 14 years in prison each after being found guilty of “intentional infliction of serious harm to health resulting in death.” As they were minors at the time of the crime, their sentences were automatically reduced to ten years and six months. According to media reports, Imnadze faces a charge of “abetting intentional infliction of serious harm to health by a group” under Article 25-117 of Georgia’s Criminal Code. Avaliani’s family has long identified Imnadze, who was his pupil, as one of the central figures in the case, alleging that she encouraged her boyfriend to assault him. Beruashvili, meanwhile, faces a charge of “failure to report a particularly serious crime” under Article 376. Five minors in the case have already been sentenced to multiple years in prison, while several more, including the son of former Deputy Interior Minister Merab Malania, remain on trial. The widening of the prosecution follows months-long efforts by Avaliani’s mother, Eka Kupatadze, to hold everyone she believes responsible for her son’s death accountable. “Georgia has won another battle against the murderers of Giga Avaliani, a healthy, innocent, genius young doctor!” Kupatadze wrote on Facebook following the latest arrests. Both girls’ families have reportedly rejected the allegations, while their lawyers have described the charges as “absurd.” Also Read: * 07/07/2026 – Minor With ‘Fascist-Nazi’ Ideology Sentenced to 14.5 Years for Organized Group Torture, Violence, Prosecutors Say * 02/06/2026 – Three More Prison Sentences Handed Down in Murder Case of Teacher Giga Avaliani * 08/04/2026 – Three Minors Sentenced to Multiple Years in Prison in Murder Case of Teacher Giga Avaliani * 09/01/2026 – Family of Killed Teacher Questions Probe, Seeks Tougher Charges, Prosecutor’s Resignation

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Nationwide Blackout Hits Georgia Third Time in Two Weeks

Georgia was hit by another nationwide power blackout on the evening of August 5, the third such incident in two weeks following the July 24–25 outages. Power was cut at around 20:10, forcing Tbilisi Metro, among other services, to stop operating, while individual consumers across the country were reporting the outage on social media. Electricity began to be gradually restored from around 21:00. Giorgi Pangani, a member of Georgia’s National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC), which acts as an independent regulator overseeing the electricity sector, said the outage occurred during “planned testing” by State Electrosystem (GSE), the country’s main transmission grid owner, at units of Enguri HPP, a major electricity producer to Georgia, including the occupied Abkhazia region. GSE later issued a statement saying that the work at Enguri HPP was aimed at studying the causes of the July 24–25 blackouts and required the electricity system to operate in isolation and at non-standard frequencies, resulting in the temporary nationwide outage. GSE Head Vano Zardiashvili was reported to have been dismissed days after the July 24–25 outages. Also Read: * 25/07/2026 – State Security Service Probes ‘Sabotage’ Over July 24-25 Nationwide Blackouts