Prosecutor Reduces Charges Against Saba Skhvitaridze in Protest Case

Until now, the prosecution claimed that on December 4, at Freedom Square, near the Courtyard Marriott hotel, Saba Skhvitaridze attacked police officer Mirian Kavtaradze and inflicted injuries to his head using a baton. He was charged under Article 353 Prima, Part 2, of the Criminal Code, which involves harming a police officer in connection with their official duties. If convicted, Skhvitaridze faced 7 to 11 years in prison.

The defense stated that Mirian Kavtaradze, recognized as the victim in the case, did not have police insignia and was provoking the gathered crowd, including hitting a young woman.

Article 120 refers to intentional minor bodily harm, its short-term impairment, or insignificant or unstable loss of general work capacity. The crime "is punishable by a fine or corrective labor for up to six months, or house arrest for six months to two years, or imprisonment for one to three years, with or without restrictions on gun-related rights."

"Our position was not just to change the article. Our position was that Saba Skhvitaridze is completely innocent of this act and should be acquitted. No one should think that the defense will be satisfied with the reclassification of the article. We will finally express satisfaction when Saba Skhvitaridze's criminal case is declared unfounded in court and the judge issues an acquittal," Skhvitaridze's lawyer, Irakli Chomakhashvili, told journalists.

The case prosecutor, Roin Khintibidze, also commented to the media. According to him, the prosecution took into account that Saba Skhvitaridze "might not have known that the police officers were performing their official duties."

"We made an objective and fair decision regarding the change of qualification. [...] The expert's conclusion also states, and the expert explained in court, that Mirian Kavtaradze had received minor bodily harm. This directly corresponds to the composition of Article 120 of the Criminal Code," the prosecutor said.

At today's hearing, Judge Jvebe Natchkhebia also reviewed the issue of revising the preventive measure and kept Skhvitaridze in pre-trial detention. According to the judge, "dangers still exist." The next hearing in the case is scheduled for August 26 at 11:00 AM.

Lawyer Saba Bratchveli commented on the reclassification of Skhvitaridze's charge on social media:

"It is particularly cynical that the Prosecutor's Office, despite this admission, reclassified the charge to Article 120 - intentional minor bodily harm - which is lighter than 353 Prima, but still provides for imprisonment. For reference, a criminally minor injury is one that requires 6 to 21 days of treatment. So, the Prosecutor's Office must now prove that Mirian Kavtaradze either spent a full week in the hospital or experienced some impairment of his work capacity. Technically, Saba should be free by now."

Saba Skhvitaridze was arrested on December 5, 2024. After his arrest, he spoke about violence by police officers. "Four well-trained thugs came in, and others left the room, at which point they started beating me. They hit me on the sides and head. I was semi-unconscious when one of the thugs rushed at me and tried to break my arm. My beating probably lasted 5-10 minutes, maybe longer, I don't know. I periodically lost consciousness," Skhvitaridze said. In January, the Special Investigation Service also recognized him as a victim, but no abusive police officer has been prosecuted.