The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has launched criminal prosecution against former Prime Minister and former Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
The Prosecutor General of Georgia, Giorgi Gvarakidze, stated at a briefing on Wednesday that the case concerns the episodes of June 20-21, 2019, and the Chorchana checkpoint [occupied Tskhinvali region].
“Specifically, the organisation of intentional grievous bodily harm against more than two persons during a protest rally held in the territory adjacent to the Parliament building, and the abuse of official authority by a person holding state political office,” Giorgi Gvarakidze stated.
According to Gvarakidze, the charges to be brought against Giorgi Gakharia carry a potential sentence of up to 13 years’ imprisonment.
“We remind the public that on May 7, 2024, the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgement on the so-called June 20 case, which found a procedural violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights in connection with the events that unfolded on June 20-21, 2019, near the Parliament building in Tbilisi, and obliged the state to conduct certain investigative actions, as well as recommending that it assess the actions of those responsible for planning and executing the operation.
Accordingly, numerous investigative procedures were undertaken, including experiments involving the victims; hundreds of witnesses were questioned, and over a hundred different types of expert examinations were carried out.
As a result of the investigative proceedings, the involvement of a particular individual, Giorgi Gakharia, has been established. The case pertains to events on the evening of June 20, 2019, when an initially peaceful demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi escalated into violence. Some protesters attempted to force their way into the Parliament building, resorting to violence against law enforcement officers deployed outside. They attacked officers with various objects, causing damage to property and engaging in destructive behaviour.
The then Minister of Internal Affairs, Giorgi Gakharia, in disregard of instructions and legislation, ordered Special Task Force officers to use special means collectively, in parallel mode, without any warning and without giving peaceful participants in the demonstration the opportunity to leave the area, thereby organising the intentional infliction of bodily harm to citizens.
As a result, through the collective use of special means, including rubber bullets, dozens of citizens sustained injuries of varying severity; two citizens lost their sight, whilst five citizens suffered grievous bodily harm.
Regarding the second episode of the charges: the investigation has established that on August 24, 2019, the then Minister of Internal Affairs, Giorgi Gakharia, who was simultaneously Secretary and permanent member of the National Security Council, ignoring the authority of the National Security Council and without coordinating with the Prime Minister of Georgia, and also without coordination with the State Security Service of Georgia and without informing the European Union Monitoring Mission, unilaterally decided to erect an additional police checkpoint near the village of Chorchana along the occupation line [Tskhinvali region].
This incident was also widely covered in the media, initiated and supported by Giorgi Gakharia.
Unsurprisingly, representatives of the occupation regime exploited these actions as a pretext for measures aimed against Georgia’s territorial integrity. Specifically, on September 5, 2019, illegal armed formations of the de facto Tskhinvali regime occupied heights on territory controlled by the Georgian authorities; approximately one hundred hectares of forest have fallen under the control of the occupying forces. Various illegal activities took place, including the movement of heavy military equipment towards populated areas, thereby creating a genuine threat of armed conflict between the parties. Additionally, residential houses in the villages of Kobi and Tsnelisi in Khashuri municipality fell under occupation.
Through these actions, Giorgi Gakharia deliberately exceeded the limits of his official authority, which caused substantial violation of the legitimate interests of society and the state.
Giorgi Gakharia is charged under Article 25, Article 117, Part 3, Subparagraph ‘m’, and Article 333, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carries a potential sentence of up to 13 years’ imprisonment,” Giorgi Gvarakidze stated.
Giorgi Gvarakidze stated that the Prosecutor’s Office will submit an application to the Tbilisi City Court within the statutory timeframe to seek detention as a pre-trial measure against the accused. The investigation into the criminal case is ongoing.
