Elene Khoshtaria, jailed leader of the opposition Droa party, will be transferred to the civilian Vivamedi clinic in Tbilisi for examination, officials confirmed after her doctors, lawyer, and family raised alarms over her “noticeably” deteriorating health in prison.
Giorgi Pataridze, head of Georgia’s Special Penitentiary Service, told reporters on June 29 that Khoshtaria will be transferred to the clinic in “about two days,” and will undergo examinations under the supervision of her personal doctors. The remarks followed a meeting at the agency attended by Maka Ioseliani and Ana Kavtaradze, doctors of Khoshtaria’s choosing, as supporters rallied outside to push for her transfer.
Khoshtaria will be subjected to treatment “in accordance with international recommendations” only after the diagnosis based on “every necessary examination” and “consultations with every specialist deemed necessary,” Maka Ioseliani said after the meeting on June 29. The doctor also told reporters that they had consent from officials to involve foreign doctors if needed.
Khoshtaria was detained on September 15, 2025, after writing “Russian Dream” on a campaign banner of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze. She refused to pay bail to secure her release during trial, and was sentenced to one year and six months in prison in March after the court found her guilty of “property damage.”
On June 17, Khoshtaria’s defense lawyer said in a briefing that her health has “noticeably” deteriorated in prison over recent months, accusing the penitentiary system of providing only “sporadic, unsystematic, and ineffective” care. The lawyer cited symptoms such as “severe joint pain; difficulty moving, periodically, limited range of motion, due to which she is sometimes unable even to write, and requires a cane when moving,” warning of “irreversible damage” and possible eventual need for a wheelchair.
The Penitentiary Service dismissed the allegations as “disinformation,” arguing her diagnoses predated her incarceration and insisting that she is “provided with all relevant conditions and freely uses all services, including medical services.”
The account was followed by further reports from Khoshtaria’s family and doctors pointing to her continued health issues, including impaired movement and severe pain, with doctor Maka Ioseliani, who examined her, speaking about the need for further checks in a multifunctional clinic for a full diagnosis. Calls have since intensified to transfer Khoshtaria to a civilian clinic.
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