Salome Zourabichvili criticizes judge for keeping protesters incustody

Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili, has strongly condemned Tbilisi City Court Judge Ketevan Jachvadze’s decision to keep 11 protesters in custody.

In a public statement, Zourabichvili called the ruling shameful and accused the judiciary of perpetuating systemic injustice.

“Ketevan Jachvadze! Shame on you! Your name must not be forgotten! Group violence is what you and the entire judicial system are committing against every citizen of Georgia. Remember, servitude ends poorly! You may not have read Kafka, but at least take a look at history,” Zourabichvili wrote.

The 11 protesters, including Andro Chichinadze, Onise Tskhadze, Guram Mirtskhulava, Luka Jabua, Jano Archaia, Ruslan Sivakov, Irakli Kerashvili, Valeri Tetruashvili, Giorgi Terishvili, Revaz Kiknadze, and Sergei Kukharchuk, were detained during recent protests and charged with participating in group violence under Article 225, Part 2, of Georgia’s Criminal Code.

The court’s decision has sparked widespread criticism, with activists and opposition figures accusing the judiciary of acting under political pressure and targeting citizens exercising their right to protest. If convicted, the detainees face sentences of 4 to 6 years in prison.