Jailed businessman Bachiashvili’s lawyer demands prison transfer after alleged beating in custody

Davit Jandieri, the lawyer of Giorgi Bachiashvili, the imprisoned former head of Georgia’s Co-Investment Fund, is demanding his transfer to a different facility following an alleged violent assault in prison.

“Although risks exist in every facility, the danger is significantly higher if he remains in the same prison where the July 11 incident took place,” Jandieri told Formula TV. He added that the attacker was aggressive from the outset and claimed that prison staff failed to intervene during the assault.

The call for relocation comes one day after Bachiashvili released a letter from custody detailing the alleged beating, intimidation, and denial of legal rights. He claimed that on July 11, an unknown man in civilian clothes entered his cell in Prison No. 8, severely beat him, bit his arm, and slammed his head into the wall, resulting in multiple injuries including a lost tooth and suspected concussion.

According to Bachiashvili, the attack followed pressure from the prison administration—allegedly acting on behalf of influential figures—to hand over access to bank accounts and cryptocurrency assets linked to former Prime Minister and ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. He stated that the prison warden, Davit Gogoberishvili, had previously tried to persuade him to cooperate, warning that he was “not in a position to set conditions.”

Despite the attack reportedly taking place under video surveillance, Bachiashvili alleged that staff did not intervene. He was later taken to Vivamedi Clinic for treatment but claimed he was forcibly returned to prison against doctors' recommendations and without proper recovery time. He also said investigators attempted to question him that same night, denying him access to legal counsel until he launched a hunger strike.

In light of the incident, Bachiashvili's legal team has requested an official investigation into the assault and demanded that he be placed in solitary confinement under constant video monitoring to ensure his safety.

Bachiashvili was sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison for alleged embezzlement and money laundering related to the so-called “cryptocurrency case,” following a 2023 complaint filed by Ivanishvili himself. He was apprehended on May 27, 2025, while attempting to leave the country via the Armenia-Georgia border. His lawyers claim he was “forcibly returned” and now faces inhumane treatment.