Georgian poet Zviad Ratiani remains in custody over alleged assault on police officer

Tbilisi City Court has ordered that poet and translator Zviad Ratiani remain in custody, rejecting his lawyers’ request for release on bail, the court announced.

During the hearing on Thursday, prosecutors argued that there were still both formal and legal grounds to keep Ratiani detained, citing a perceived risk of committing new offences and influencing witnesses.

Ratiani’s defence lawyers countered that there was no risk of further crimes. They also stressed that Ratiani had no prior convictions and had no contact with the police officers who are prosecution witnesses, making interference impossible. They requested bail of 10,000 Georgian lari instead of continued detention, but the court did not grant it.

“The decision to keep Ratiani in custody, citing abstract risks, gives the impression of a punitive approach using the harshest measure,” one of his lawyers said.

Ratiani was arrested on 23 June during a protest outside the Georgian Parliament. He is accused of assaulting a police officer, a charge under Article 353¹ of the Criminal Code, which carries a prison sentence of four to seven years.