Transparency International Georgia Says Elisashvili Conviction Lacked Terrorist Intent
By Messenger Staff
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Transparency International Georgia said on Tuesday that a court failed to prove opposition politician Aleksandre Elisashvili had a terrorist purpose when he attempted to set fire to a Tbilisi City Court building, and said the case provided grounds to consider him a political prisoner.
The Tbilisi City Court sentenced Elisashvili to 13 years in prison on July 10 after finding him guilty of attempting to commit a terrorist act under Article 323(1) of Georgia's Criminal Code.
Transparency International Georgia said the evidence established that Elisashvili attempted to set fire to the court registry premises. Elisashvili himself acknowledged pouring petrol over the building with the intention of burning it down.
The organisation said the court had not, however, established the separate requirement of terrorist intent. Under Georgian law, a terrorist act requires not only conduct such as arson that poses a serious danger, but also a specific purpose, including intimidating the population, forcing authorities to take or avoid a particular action, or destabilising or destroying the country's fundamental political or constitutional structures.
According to TI Georgia, the evidence cited in the judgment instead pointed to a political protest motive. It said Elisashvili had spoken about what he considered injustice in the courts and his treatment by authorities.
The organisation said the court failed to explain which legally defined terrorist purpose Elisashvili had pursued or what evidence proved it beyond reasonable doubt.
It said the conviction raised concerns under the European Convention on Human Rights, including the right to a fair trial and protection against arbitrary criminal prosecution. It also said there were grounds to consider Elisashvili a political prisoner under Council of Europe criteria.
Transparency International Georgia said Elisashvili's conduct could instead have been prosecuted as arson causing significant property damage, an offence carrying a prison sentence of three to six years.
"Political motive and terrorist purpose, however, are distinct legal concepts," the organisation stated, adding that Elisashvili would be added to its list of political prisoners.
