Seven people, including the former head of Georgia’s Special Penitentiary Service and the former director of Gldani prison, have been charged in connection with the violence against inmate Davit Peikrishvili, Deputy Prosecutor General Amiran Guluashvili announced on November 13.
The charges follow the allegations by Peikrishvili’s family and lawyers that he was assaulted by fellow inmates, who they said were deliberately placed in his cell at Gldani Prison No. 8 to apply pressure on him, with Peikrishvili hospitalized twice with multiple injuries in October. The family, and later Peikrishvili himself, alleged that the group, some of whose members reportedly had a history of conflict with Peikrishvili and his brother, sought to gain access to Peikrishvili’s phone.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia initially denied the assault, but its then-head, Giorgi Pataridze, had to resign later as the Prosecutor General’s Office took over the investigation, followed by the dismissal of prison director Ramaz Pirtskhalava as well.
Those charged include Pataridze, Pirtskhalava, as well as inmates allegedly involved in violence, including Vato Kipiani and Shota (“Katsro”) Bilanishvili, figures recently detained and long associated with the criminal underworld, and Shota Kipiani, Pavle Gotsiridze, and Davit Katcharava.
According to Guluashvili, the five inmates, upon inmate Vato Kipiani’s request, Penitentiary Service Head Pataridze’s instruction, and Prison Director Pirtskhalava’s decision, were placed in Peikrishvili’s cell on October 16, with the group exerting physical violence on Peikrishvili on the same day, with violence lasting until October 20.
“As a result of the violence, Davit Peikrishvili sustained multiple injuries across his body, including fractures of four ribs and the transverse processes of vertebrae, as well as a concussion, which are classified as less serious bodily harm, resulting in prolonged health impairment,” Guluashvili said.
Pataridze has been charged with exceeding official authority, while Pirtskhalava has been charged with abusing official authority, both facing up to three years in prison if convicted. The five inmates have been charged with inflicting deliberate less serious harm to health, carrying four to six years in jail.
The statement did not indicate whether prosecutors would seek pre-trial detention for Pataridze and Pirtskhalava.
Davit Peikrishvili, a figure associated with Georgia’s criminal underworld, was detained together with his twin brother in September on charges of “legalizing illicit revenues in large amounts.”
Avtandil Bilanishvili, known as “Katsro,” and Vakhtang (Vato) Kipiani were arrested on October 15 alongside Shota Kipiani on charges of group violence. Both have long been associated with Georgia’s criminal underworld in media reports. Bilanishvili has also repeatedly been linked in reports to Bera, the son of Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, with the two reportedly having a close friendship.
Also Read:
