Trial of four Chiatura miners postponed as verdict delayed

The trial of four miners from Chiatura was postponed on Monday at the Kutaisi City Court after the judge delayed the announcement of a verdict.

According to the defendants, the judge had initially left the courtroom to deliver a ruling during what was expected to be the final hearing, but later informed the court by phone that the verdict would not be announced on the same day.

The court subsequently scheduled the verdict announcement for 20 January, with the hearing set to begin at 11:00 a.m.

The miners said the judge’s conduct indicated that the case was unfounded and politically motivated. One of the defendants told journalists that all parties had expected the verdict to be delivered, but that the judge did not return to the courtroom and instead postponed the decision.

The miner claimed the delay reflected the difficulty of justifying what he described as a fabricated case and questioned the prosecution’s version of events. He also warned that the verdict could be issued in writing without a further hearing.

The four miners - Merab Saralidze, Giorgi Neparidze, Tengo Gvelesiani and Achiko Chumburidze - were arrested on 28 April 2025.

According to investigators, the defendants physically assaulted the director of the Shukruti mine, causing injuries to various parts of his body.

The investigation was initially launched under Article 118, Part 2 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which concerns the intentional infliction of less serious bodily harm committed by a group. Charges against Saralidze and Neparidze were later upgraded under Article 225 of the Criminal Code, which concerns the organisation of, and participation in, group violence and carries a sentence of six to nine years in prison.