Public Defender states review of prison CCTV revealed no evidence of ill-treatment against convict Giorgi Davitadze

Georgia’s Public Defender Levan Ioseliani confirmed that following a complaint by convict Giorgi Davitadze, an immediate review of penitentiary CCTV footage exposed no evidence of ill-treatment.

Ioseliani noted, however, that the inmate had also alleged verbal abuse and obscenity from prison escorts, prompting the Ombudsman’s Office to refer the matter to the Prosecutor’s Office, which subsequently opened a formal investigation.

“Convict Davitadze petitioned us on 26 December regarding incidents on 20 and 21 December, alleging ill-treatment and threats of rape. That same day, our officers conducted a comprehensive review of all security footage from 20 and 21 December at the facility, and no evidence supporting such claims was found,” Ioseliani stated.

“He raised further concerns periodically, including in June, when he reiterated allegations of sexual offences relating to that same December period. We explained the steps taken by the Public Defender’s Office and outlined our findings in the presence of his legal counsel. Neither the inmate nor his lawyer objected to our conclusions at the time. However, he also alleged verbal abuse and swearing by prison escorts, which we referred to the Prosecutor’s Office, leading to a formal criminal enquiry,” the Ombudsman continued.

The Ombudsman’s statement follows a public release earlier today by the Special Penitentiary Service, which dismissed claims that staff at Penitentiary Facility No. 6 had subjected Davitadze to sexual violence as false. The agency subsequently released CCTV footage documenting the inmate’s transfer to and confinement in a de-escalation cell on 21 December 2025.