Georgian opposition leader alleges husband was kidnapped, forced to apologize to Ivanishvili’s son

The chairwoman of Georgia's main opposition party, the United National Movement (UNM), Tina Bokuchava, has alleged that her husband, Kote Ioseliani, was kidnapped and coerced into recording a public apology to Uta Ivanishvili, the son of Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chair Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Speaking at a party briefing on Monday, Bokuchava claimed Ioseliani was abducted by masked men and held for several hours under pressure to issue the statement. According to her, the incident occurred outside their home late at night.

“My husband was ambushed by five masked men near our residence,” Bokuchava said. “He was blindfolded, handcuffed, and forcibly taken to an unknown location - which we believe, based on trajectory and timing, was the so-called Module building.”

Bokuchava further claimed that Ioseliani was held for approximately eight hours during which he was subjected to psychological pressure, including threats concerning the whereabouts and safety of their children - a 10-year-old and twin toddlers.

“I tried to contact him all night, but he was denied access to his phone,” she added.

A video of Ioseliani surfaced on social media on Sunday in which he apologizes to Uta Ivanishvili for a comment he made seven years ago regarding Ivanishvili’s sexual orientation.

“I sincerely apologize to Uta. What I said was a lie,” Ioseliani said in the video. “I regret having said it and want to apologize once again. Certain circumstances arose, based on which I was forced to say all this in this way.”

Ioseliani was referring to a 2018 remark in which he hinted at a romantic relationship involving Uta Ivanishvili and a well-known public figure. At the time, he retracted the comment shortly after, attributing it to unverified “rumors circulating in the city.”

Bokuchava claimed the recent apology was made under duress, describing the entire episode as a politically motivated act of intimidation.

“They thought they couldn’t arrest me and decided to go after my family to silence me,” she claimed. “But I will say once again that I am not afraid, I will not be silent and I will always tell the truth.”

She also addressed growing speculation around upcoming local elections, accusing some opposition figures of collusion with the ruling party.

“It is another lie and hypocrisy to pretend to compete with Ivanishvili in the local self-government elections - this is deceiving oneself and the people,” Bokuchava said. “Participation in this special operation called elections can only be the result of a deal with Ivanishvili. I hope that people I respect will not make such a deal.”