The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has formally charged all five individuals detained in connection with acts of violence committed against Zviad Maisashvili, Levan Khabeishvili, and Guram Rogava during the 2024 protests. The five accused, identified by their initials as G.K., Z.Ch., A.B., T.B., and G.B., have now been formally indicted.

Following an investigation conducted by the Investigative Division of the Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office, three former and one current employee of a riot police unit have been identified and detained, as well as an active officer from the Security Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The investigation has established that on November 30, 2024, at approximately 06:30, on Rustaveli Avenue, two then-serving employees of the Special Tasks Force of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, identified as T.B. and G.B., one of whom is currently employed by the Security Police, subjected Zviad Maisashvili to physical violence, as a result of which he lost consciousness.

The investigation has further established that on April 30, 2024, during a protest on Rustaveli Avenue, a then-serving employee of the Special Tasks Force of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, identified as Z.Ch., who currently holds the position of head of a division within the Special Operations Department of the State Security Service, together with a further employee of the same department, identified as A.B., subjected Levan Khabeishvili to physical violence.

It has additionally been established that on November 29, 2024, during a protest on Rustaveli Avenue, an employee of the Special Tasks Force of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, identified as G.K., subjected journalist Guram Rogava to physical violence whilst he was actively carrying out his journalistic duties at the time of the assault.

All five detainees have been charged under Article 333, Part 3, Subparagraph (b) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to the abuse of official authority through the use of violence. The individual charged in connection with the incident involving Rogava also faces an additional charge under Article 154, Part 2, concerning the unlawful obstruction of a journalist’s professional activities by means of abuse of official authority. The charges carry potential custodial sentences of between five and eight years’ imprisonment.

The Prosecutor’s Office has applied to the court for remand in custody to be imposed upon all five accused as a preventive measure.

The investigation into these criminal cases is ongoing, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, to identify all individuals involved in the aforementioned incidents and other acts of violence to ensure they are held accountable under the law.