Giorgi Bachiashvili Beaten in Prison

Zurab Chkhaidze, Clinical Director of Vivamedi, confirmed that the prisoner had various injuries all over his body, including in the head area. According to Chkhaidze, "primary surgical treatment of the wound was performed," and based on doctors' recommendations, Bachiashvili was returned to prison the same day. The Special Penitentiary Service has not commented on the prisoner's beating.

Today, July 14, Giorgi Bachiashvili released a letter from prison through his lawyers, describing the details of the pressure and assault on him:

"On July 8, 2025, at 9 PM, I was summoned by David Gogoberishvili, head of Penitentiary Facility No. 8, who introduced himself in a friendly manner and repeatedly advised me to reveal all of Bidzina Ivanishvili's bank accounts, cryptocurrency transactions, and account addresses. He was interested in how I would technically accomplish all this. I replied that under these circumstances, when my property and that of my family were being hunted, and I myself was imprisoned, with all my rights violated, I did not consider it expedient. To this, David replied, 'Giorgi, you are not in a situation to set conditions, you know there are all kinds of people in prison, 'crazy' and less 'crazy'.' The conversation was in a friendly tone, and at that moment, I did not perceive it as a threat.

On July 11, at 7 PM, the door to my cell opened (where I had been alone for the last week, under video surveillance, with 2 video cameras in the cell, I know the video surveillance works and I am monitored 24 hours a day) and an unknown person entered (tall, athletic build, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, sports shoes). He did not tell me who he was, he did not introduce himself. Then I asked his identity, to which he aggressively replied that 'only he had a right to ask questions here.' I told him that such a conversation would not be possible (I realized that this person was let in for provocation). After this, he started verbally abusing and cursing. I asked him to stop cursing, after which he immediately resorted to physical violence. He punched me, wrestled with me, and bit my shoulder until it bled. During the fight, the day supervisor of the fifth E block, Archil, opened the cell window, at which point the fight stopped. However, this person told Archil to close the window, which, to my surprise, he immediately obeyed and closed the window. Then, the fight continued again. There was a glass tea cup in the cell (it did not belong to me, I found it in the cell, probably belonging to another prisoner), which he picked up and smashed on my head, after which I fell to my knees and momentarily lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness, that person continued to beat me and tried to swing a shard of the glass at my neck and face, but managed to cut my right wrist, and punched me in the face with his other hand.

He repeatedly slammed my head against the wall. I asked him to calm down and leave me alone. After a few minutes, Archil opened the door and asked this person to leave the cell, and they left together. There was a pool of blood in the cell, the walls were also smeared with blood, I demanded to meet with the prison head. About 10 minutes later, the prison head came to me and took me to the duty surgeon.

The prison head told me that this person was a convicted prisoner (he did not say the name/surname) and that he was allowed in by his order (for resettlement purposes) and that he did not know he would fight. However, everything was already clear to me, as this was the execution of the threat message.

The surgeon treated my wounds and injuries, during which I lost consciousness again, my blood pressure rose, and I felt unwell. I demanded to call my lawyer and the public defender, but they did not allow me. Then I demanded to be transferred to the Vivamedi clinic because I started having severe headaches, nausea, sensitivity to light, and ringing in my ears. They called an ambulance and transferred me to Vivamedi at approximately 9 PM. I also asked the ambulance for the right to call, and I insisted at Vivamedi, but to no avail. The doctor at Vivamedi, whose name I don't know (a short-haired blonde woman, about 60 years old, thin), told me that if I refused to undergo procedures without calling, they would return me to prison.

At Vivamedi, I underwent examinations (head CT, blood test, I needed 3 stitches on my head, I had multiple bruises, 1 stitch on my right wrist, a bite mark on my left arm (it was treated), the inside of my lower lip was torn, but it was not stitched (I also had significant swelling in the right side of my face, around the eye and cheek, and my sixth tooth in the right lower jaw was broken). I also had bruises on my neck, coccyx, and back areas. I had a headache, nausea, ringing in my ears, and dizziness.

I requested to remain in the hospital, but they refused. I could not get out of bed, I was shouting at the top of my voice and demanding to make a phone call. The escort service members had their body cameras on. They grabbed me and forcibly put me in the escort vehicle, and returned me to Penitentiary Facility No. 8, to another cell.

This happened at 3 AM. At about 3:30 AM, two female investigators came to me and asked me to take off my bloody clothes and give them to them, and also to give a statement, but I refused to give a statement without a lawyer. I again demanded to call my lawyers and the public defender, but to no avail.

On the morning of July 12, I refused breakfast and lunch because I had symptoms associated with a concussion. I requested a doctor and transfer to the hospital. At approximately 4 PM, I was transferred to Penitentiary Facility No. 18. I again demanded to make a call, and only after 6 PM was I able to call the Public Defender's Office, only after I declared a hunger strike.

There was a video camera in my cell, and also in the corridor, and everything should be recorded, how that person was brought to me and where he was taken afterwards. I link my beating to the illegal forced seizure of my property and intimidation.

I demand to be alone in a cell under video surveillance. Otherwise, my life and health will be in danger. On Saturday evening, a representative of the Public Defender met me. I told him everything in detail, I demand that the Public Defender's Office investigate the matter and take action. This is the result of coordinated action between the prison administration and criminals, accordingly, they represent one criminal group. I declare that no matter how many criminals they send to my cell and no matter who commits violence, I will not break and they will not intimidate me," Giorgi Bachiashvili stated.

Giorgi Bachiashvili has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Bachiashvili was sued by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party. According to the Prosecutor's Office, Bachiashvili handed over only $536,900 to Ivanishvili from the profits of the investment, while unlawfully appropriating the remaining 8,986 bitcoins owed to the investor, valued at approximately $43 million at the time. Giorgi Bachiashvili does not consider himself guilty.

Giorgi Bachiashvili does not consider himself guilty. On March 10, before the court announced the guilty verdict, he left the country. Approximately a month and a half later, he was arrested and is currently serving his sentence in Gldani prison. Bachiashvili says that he was abducted from abroad and brought to Georgia by Airzena aircraft, on board of which was also Anri Okhanashvili, head of the State Security Service.