Jailed Georgian Opposition Politician Aleko Elisashvili Faces New Criminal Charge
By Messenger Staff
Monday, August 3, 2026
Imprisoned Georgian opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili has been charged with contempt of court after prosecutors accused him of insulting a police officer during a court hearing, adding to the criminal cases already pending against him.
The new charge, brought under Article 366 of Georgia's Criminal Code, stems from a June 15 hearing where Elisashvili allegedly called police officer Shota Chipashvili a "scoundrel" while the officer was giving testimony, local media reported, citing Elisashvili's lawyer Giorgi Rekhviashvili. The offense carries penalties ranging from a fine and community service to up to one year in prison.
Rekhviashvili said the exchange followed what he described as misconduct by the officer during Elisashvili's arrest. The lawyer alleged Chipashvili tightened the handcuffs excessively and verbally abused his client.
The contempt case is the fourth criminal proceeding against Elisashvili, who is serving a 13-year prison sentence after being convicted on July 10 of attempted terrorism for trying to set fire to the Tbilisi City Court chancellery in November 2025.
Elisashvili admitted setting the fire but denied the terrorism charge, arguing that his actions were a political protest rather than terrorism. He was initially charged with attempted property damage before prosecutors upgraded the case to attempted terrorism.
While in pretrial detention, prosecutors also charged Elisashvili with terrorism over an alleged arson attack on the Tbilisi City Court archive in May 2025, months before the November incident. He has denied that accusation as well.
Separately, Elisashvili is accused of persecuting ruling Georgian Dream member Ali Babaev over a confrontation between the two in Tbilisi in December 2024.
His Citizens party joined the Strong Georgia coalition ahead of the 2024 parliamentary election and has remained in the alliance after several other parties withdrew. Elisashvili also fought alongside Ukrainian forces for a brief period following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
