Giorgi Chikvaidze, a detained Georgian businessman accused of large-scale embezzlement, has refused all medical treatment from the staff of Penitentiary Institution No. 18, citing concerns for his safety.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Chikvaidze claimed he did not trust the prison’s medical personnel and believed his life could be at risk under their care. His refusal comes as part of a wider protest, including a hunger strike, which he said is in response to alleged efforts to suppress his voice and obstruct his legal proceedings.
Chikvaidze also accused authorities of deliberately preventing him from attending a scheduled court hearing, claiming he was prepared for transportation when he was unexpectedly taken for additional medical tests. According to him, the chief doctor then informed him he would not be allowed to appear in court, sparking a confrontation with prison officials.
“I asked to be taken to court as agreed, but the situation escalated into shouting and a confrontation,” he wrote, alleging that prison authorities forcibly returned him to his cell.
The businessman has called on international diplomatic missions, particularly the British and American embassies, to intervene and monitor his case.
Chikvaidze, a 38-year-old Georgian businessman and former supporter of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was arrested on March 11, 2025, on charges of embezzling a substantial sum of money. The charges stem from allegations that his company, Ramzes Georgian Yachting Platform, accepted 1,155,019 Georgian Lari to import a yacht under a purchase agreement but failed to deliver the vessel.
Initially released on bail, Chikvaidze’s pre-trial detention was ordered after the court revoked his bail on March 11. Following his detention, Chikvaidze declared a hunger strike in protest, asserting that his legal troubles were politically motivated and tied to his refusal to participate in activities allegedly linked to Russian interests.
Chikvaidze has also alleged that he possessed compromising information against Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling party, and has claimed to have received death threats due to the information he holds.
