The Georgian court has handed down a one-year prison sentence to two anti-government protesters, Mindia Shervashidze and Tornike Toshkhua, following their conviction for assault. Judge Elene Goguadze delivered this verdict on Wednesday, concluding a case where both defendants had been held in pre-trial detention since their arrest. The sentence will commence from the date of their detention, with an anticipated release in August.
Shervashidze and Toshkhua were charged with attacking Beka Gotsiridze, a supporter of the ruling Georgian Dream party, near parliament on August 1, 2025. Evidence, including a video, depicted a person being pushed and kicked by two individuals. The pair were arrested on August 16th.
The defense argued that Gotsiridze instigated the confrontation, citing his repeated verbal insults directed at demonstrators. Witnesses also alleged that Gotsiridze was carrying a knife during the altercation, which subsequently fell to the ground. Gotsiridze, a former footballer, frequently used social media to criticize Georgian Dream opponents.
Neither Toshkhua nor Shervashidze confessed to the offense. During a December hearing, Gotsiridze expressed regret for his presence near parliament and requested the defendants’ release on bail. Judge Goguadze acknowledged Gotsiridze’s position but imposed a one-year sentence, noting that the victim’s account wasn’t always decisive.
A non-custodial sentence wasn’t applied due to the defendants’ lack of remorse. The charge carried a potential sentence of up to two years, though fines were also a possibility. Sadly, Beka Gotsiridze passed away in February 2026, shortly before the sentencing of Shervashidze and Toshkhua.
This Georgian court case involved two individuals and highlighted tensions surrounding the ruling party.
Topics: #georgian #court #two
Georgian authorities have imposed a one-year jail term on two individuals involved in anti-government demonstrations, Mindia Shervashidze and Tornike Toshkhua. This decision came after they were found