Prosecutor’s Office seeks bail for arrested doctor Chakhunashvili

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has requested that the court impose bail as a preventive measure against Doctor Giorgi Chakhunashvili, who was detained in connection with the events that took place in Tbilisi on October 4.

At a briefing on Friday, the Prosecutor’s Office said that “considering various objective circumstances, the prosecution has filed a motion with the court to apply bail as a preventive measure in the case of Giorgi Chakhunashvili.”

In the same statement, prosecutors announced that charges have been brought against 17 additional individuals for their alleged involvement in the attempted seizure of a facility of strategic and special importance and participation in group violence.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Amiran Dolishvili, Giorgi Korkia, Zakro Albutashvili, Irakli Chkhvirkia, Anton Upers (in absentia), Anton Vardanidze (in absentia), Giorgi Muladze, Khvicha Gogokhia, Giorgi Chakhunashvili, Ramaz Mamuladze, Genadi Kupreishvili, Aleksandre Chilachava, Sulkhan Tugushi, Levan Jikia, and Lasha Ivanadze have been charged under Articles 19-222(2)(a) and 225(2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carry penalties of up to six years in prison.

Additionally, Ia Darakhvelidze and Avtandil Surmanidze have been charged under Article 225(2) (participation in group violence).

The Prosecutor’s Office said it has already filed motions seeking pre-trial detention for 14 of the accused, while similar motions will be submitted for two others within the legally prescribed timeframe.

As for Giorgi Chakhunashvili, prosecutors said the decision to seek bail instead of detention was based on “various objective factors.”

The investigation relates to the October 4 attempt to seize a strategic facility in Tbilisi, an incident that led to clashes and dozens of arrests. The alleged organizers of the unrest - Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze - remain in custody. In total, 26 other individuals have also been charged and detained in connection with the same case.