Public Defender Pledges Transparency in Reviewing Protest-Related Verdicts and Urges Accountability After Political Clashes
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Public Defender Levan Ioseliani has promised full transparency in examining court rulings against citizens detained during recent protests, saying his office will ensure the public receives answers once the review is complete.
"Nothing will be hidden that will not be revealed; there will be no question that we will not have an answer when we finish studying the case," Ioseliani said.
He noted that three detainees, Akhobadze, Katsia, and Abramov, had already been acquitted and released, which he described as a positive development. Ioseliani said he had also met with the parents of other detainees, asking them to provide case materials for further study.
"We will study whether the case was decided based on evidence. We could not study everyone's case because it is impossible; each case consists of several volumes, but we could study several cases. I am also interested in whether the judgments delivered were based on reliable evidence. When we finish here, we will provide information to the public," he explained.
Ioseliani also addressed his relationship with opposition politicians, saying he had visited them while they were imprisoned and provided support where possible. "When the opposition representatives were in prison, I went and visited them all. I helped them with whatever I could, whether it was health or other everyday problems; I got involved in many issues," he said. The Public Defender added that he continues to assist detainees with individual needs, pointing to a recent recommendation he signed concerning medical treatment for Nino Datashvili. "Work is constantly underway towards these people," he emphasized.
Speaking about the confrontation that broke out near the Georgian Dream election headquarters on Melikishvili Avenue, Ioseliani stressed the need for law enforcement to act decisively. "For those who are itching to do something, there is a law enforcement agency, and if they cannot restrain themselves, the law should restrain them. If you give everyone the opportunity to do whatever they want, then everything in this country will turn into chaos and anarchy," he said.
He condemned the mistreatment of women during the incident, calling it unacceptable. "How they behaved against women. who like that in this country? How can anyone support this? Let no one forget, especially political figures, that the majority of voters in this country are women and they are very supportive of each other, regardless of political tastes. I do not know a woman who would like this," he stated.
Ioseliani underscored that accountability must apply equally to all sides. "Once again, I call on everyone and I want to ask everyone not to demand that the Public Defender be one-sided. And no one should consider themselves above the law. Not one side. In all cases, I demand that the law be enforced and perpetrators be punished, and it does not matter to me who it will be: a representative of the Georgian Dream, a representative of the opposition, a representative of an NGO, or an activist. If he violates the law, he must be held accountable," he said.
According to Ioseliani, the ultimate responsibility lies with the government. "If the police see that the forces that have been deployed are not enough to maintain law and order, they should be reinforced. This is the function of the state. Of course, the main responsibility lies with the government. It holds the main reins of management in its hands. It makes the decision, therefore, first of all, the responsibility lies with it, then with everyone else who participates, expresses an opinion. The government must ensure peace, protect the free expression of our citizens, and ensure that no escalation takes place," Ioseliani concluded.
