ECHR registers complaint in case of arrested Georgian actor

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has officially registered a complaint in the case of Andro Chichinadze, a Georgian actor detained under what his legal representatives describe as politically motivated charges during protests sparked by the Georgian government’s decision late last year to halt the country’s EU integration until 2028.

Eka Beselia, the lawyer representing Chichinadze, confirmed the development to the media in a statement outside the Georgian court on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of the case for “political prisoners” in Georgia.

Beselia explained that the complaint, which challenges Chichinadze’s “unlawful detention”, was filed following the failure of the Georgian national courts to ensure a “fair hearing.”
The ECHR is being asked to review multiple violations, including alleged illegal restriction of Chichinadze’s freedom, breaches of the right to a fair trial, and violations of his rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

“This is a difficult political case, involving the defenders of Georgia’s European future,” Beselia said. “In a situation where the Georgian judiciary has not demonstrated the minimum standards of justice, we now have reliable and crucial information for our political hostages, as the Strasbourg Court has registered the complaint and assigned it a case number.”

The legal team has received swift communication from the Strasbourg Court, just days after submitting the complaint. Beselia stressed the significance of this “rapid response”, noting that the case was a “critical test” of Georgia’s commitment to upholding international human rights standards.

“We approach this process carefully,” Beselia continued. “The Strasbourg Court holds a very high standard, and we are hopeful that it will provide a fair and impartial ruling, unlike the political proceedings we have seen in Georgia’s courts”, she said.