Opposition leader Elisashvili placed in pre‑trial detention on attempted terrorism charges

A Tbilisi court has ordered pre‑trial detention for opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili, a leader of Lelo – For Georgia, who has been charged with attempted terrorism. The ruling was issued by Judge Lela Maridashvili after prosecutors requested the strictest preventive measure, while the defence sought his release on a 5,000‑lari bail.

Elisashvili is charged under Article 19‑323 (1) of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concerns attempted terrorist acts and carries a sentence of 10 to 15 years in prison.

According to investigators, in the early hours of 29 November, Elisashvili - masked and armed with a firearm, ammunition and materials allegedly intended for a terrorist act - arrived at the Tbilisi City Court building.

Prosecutors said he smashed the glass façade of the court’s chancery with a hammer, entered the building, poured a large quantity of flammable liquid over documents and objects, and attempted to start a fire. He is also accused of assaulting and beating a court security officer.

Elisashvili: “I confirm the act, but I committed no crime”.

During the hearing, Elisashvili delivered an emotional statement explaining why he attempted to set fire to the court building, saying he could no longer tolerate “injustice, repression and violence” in the country.

“These are not tears - this is anger and resentment. Don’t think I am weak,” he told the judge. He argued that his actions were a form of protest and insisted he had no intention to harm anyone.

“If I wanted to hurt someone, none of those officers would be alive. The gun in my holster was unloaded. I have a permit to carry it. I took it because the route I walked was dangerous - I could have been attacked by dogs on the way,” he said.

He praised the behaviour of the first court guard he encountered, saying the officer “did his job” and resisted him effectively. Elisashvili added that he had lied to his family, telling them he was going fishing, after purchasing and preparing everything needed for the act.

He described spending nearly an hour trying to break the glass façade before entering the building and said he struggled with fear before climbing over a construction fence: “I sat by the fence thinking: should I go in or not? Then I got angry with myself - how can I be afraid?”

At several points, Elisashvili apologised to colleagues and supporters, while urging activists outside the court to “push to the end.”

“I will never accept what is happening. Those who remain outside - push to the end, fire to oligarchy,” he said.