The story of inmate Giorgi Davitadze, who alleged that he was subjected to sexual violence by personnel at Penitentiary Facility No. 6, has triggered widespread public outcry in Georgia. The treatment of prisoners and conditions of detention remain an extraordinarily painful and sensitive issue for the public. Exactly 14 years ago, a similar prison scandal became one of the decisive factors that shifted the course of the country’s political history and brought about a change of power.
An audio recording of the shocking statement delivered by 36-year-old convict Giorgi Davitadze during a Court of Appeals hearing was broadcast by the opposition television channel TV Pirveli. In the recording, the inmate claims that in December 2025, in the so-called de-escalation room at Penitentiary Facility No. 6 in Rustavi, he was subjected to sexual and physical abuse by correctional escort officers.
On September 21, his family spoke out publicly for the first time. His father, former Georgian Dream member of parliament Avtandil Davitadze, stated that his son was beaten by nine guards in December and that the investigation launched in the wake of the incident had yielded no results. The relatives demanded that Davitadze be transferred to another facility and that a comprehensive investigation be conducted. They also placed responsibility for the incident on the head of the facility, Shota Trapaidze.
The audio recording of Davitadze’s court appearance was subsequently released to the public.
“They took me down to the de-escalation room and raped me—with a finger, with a hand. I am saying this right here, in the presence of my family… Everything is recorded on the cameras. They do everything under the cameras, positioning themselves so it won’t be visible, but they still cannot conceal it.”
According to Davitadze, about ten penitentiary officers took part in the incident, and the events were captured on surveillance cameras. The inmate also recounted subsequent psychological pressure and stated that he had attempted suicide. The man added that after he requested forensic medical examinations, he was subjected to renewed violence.
The Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia categorically denied the allegations. The agency labeled the prisoner’s statements an “absolute lie” and “disinformation,” asserting that Davitadze’s family was conducting a campaign aimed at discrediting the penitentiary system.
What the Footage Shows
Following the release of the audio recording, the Special Penitentiary Service published video footage of the incident dating back to December 21, 2025.
The footage shows approximately ten facility officers and Davitadze himself. One of the officers is wearing disposable medical gloves. According to the video, the prisoner is searched, including with a handheld metal detector. Several officers pin his arms behind his back, place him onto a bed, and carry out a forced search.
The agency explained the use of physical force by stating that upon placement in the de-escalation room, the inmate was required to undergo a search; however, according to the service, Davitadze refused to comply and began insulting the personnel. Consequently, the agency’s statement says, a forced search was conducted.
The officers leave the room roughly two minutes after the inmate is brought inside.
The released video recording contains no audio.
The Penitentiary Service maintains that the video materials were examined by investigators and the Office of the Public Defender (Ombudsman), and that no evidence of sexual or any other form of violence against Davitadze was identified.
“Until now, we refrained from releasing this footage for one reason only: an investigation is underway, and we did not want our actions to be perceived by anyone as an attempt to exert pressure on the investigation. However, given the significant public interest in the issue, the delicate nature of the case, and the deliberate attempt by the convict’s family to discredit the agency, the Penitentiary Service has made this decision.”
The inmate’s mother, Irma Davitadze, maintains that the published recording is incomplete. According to her, the prosecutor’s office showed her five video files with a total duration of around 20 minutes, whereas the excerpts released by the Penitentiary Service fail to reflect the full sequence of events.
She also contends that the recording was captured from only one angle and that key segments crucial to the investigation may have been omitted.
“Naturally, they cut out everything that contradicted them. It clearly shows what [guard] Kvaratskhelia is doing with his hands… I do not want to repeat it, it makes me sick. To them, this is violence, mockery; they think they have trampled Giorgi’s dignity, but they will not get away with it!”
According to Irma Davitadze, the video recordings shown to her substantiated both the fact of violence and the claims made by the prisoner.
Leadership Commends the Guards
Following the release of the video footage, the head of the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia, Giorgi Pataridze, stated that no violence or degrading treatment had occurred against Giorgi Davitadze.
According to Pataridze, the published footage “unequivocally and clearly demonstrates” that the officers at Facility No. 6 did not even use excessive force. He commended all facility staff for their “high professionalism” and invited interested parties to review, in accordance with statutory procedures, the complete video recording of Davitadze’s movements across the facility grounds dating from March 3, 2026.
The head of the service also called on the public to refrain from circulating what he described as “false and deliberate disinformation.”
Thus, the leadership of the penitentiary system continues to uphold its version of a lawful, forced search of the inmate. Davitadze, in turn, maintains that it was precisely during his placement in the de-escalation room that he was subjected to sexual violence by approximately ten guards.
What the Ombudsman Says
The Office of the Public Defender of Georgia stated that it had received information regarding the alleged abuse as early as December 26, 2025, from Davitadze’s legal counsel.
On that same day, a representative of the Public Defender visited Penitentiary Facility No. 6 and interviewed the inmate. Davitadze reported mistreatment and sexual abuse that he claimed had occurred on December 20–21.
The Office immediately notified the General Prosecutor’s Office, prompting the launch of an investigation. Additionally, the Public Defender requested that the Penitentiary Service preserve all video recordings covering that timeframe.
After reviewing the materials, the Public Defender’s Office stated that the specific details of brutal violence described by the inmate were not substantiated by the video recordings. However, the Ombudsman emphasized that this does not conclude the investigation into the circumstances of the case.
“Verification of the convict’s complaint must be carried out by the investigation through the collection and cross-examination of all possible evidence,” the statement read.
The Public Defender called on the prosecutor’s office to present the findings of the investigation to the public swiftly and noted that it will continue monitoring the case.
Demands of NGOs
More than ten Georgian non-governmental organizations also demanded a thorough investigation, including Transparency International Georgia, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), Democracy Defenders, Sapari, the Social Justice Center, ISFED, and IDFI.
The NGOs argue that the released video on its own does not address key questions in the case. Specifically, they demand clarification on why Davitadze was placed in the de-escalation room, why approximately ten officers were present at the same time, who was in the room, and what actions were taken by each of them.
In a joint statement, the organizations also called for establishing whether the published footage is complete and continuous, securing the preservation of original recordings, and ensuring access for independent verification.
In addition, the NGOs called for an independent medical and forensic evaluation of Davitadze, protection for the inmate, his family, and potential witnesses from intimidation, and measures to prevent the alleged perpetrators from compromising evidence or influencing the proceedings.
“If the actions described regarding Giorgi Davitadze are confirmed, the case must be qualified not only as a serious sexual offense: it constitutes a prima facie violation of the prohibition of torture against a person under the effective control of the state—a prisoner—which is strictly prohibited under the Constitution of Georgia and international human rights instruments.”
Human rights advocates also called it impermissible for any state authority to unilaterally dismiss the allegations as an “absolute lie” before the investigation is concluded. “The very purpose of an effective investigation is to establish what actually happened,” the statement read.
Political Fallout
The case has already sparked political reactions. Representatives of several opposition parties have demanded an independent investigation and the temporary suspension of officers potentially implicated in the incident.
Giga Lemondjava, a representative of the Droa! party who identified Davitadze as a former classmate, stated that he has no doubt about the veracity of his account.
“I have known him for many years, and I am 100% certain: what he recounted in court is the truth. Personally, I rule out not only a lie, but even the slightest exaggeration. The system’s reaction to Giorgi’s account convinces me even further that he fell victim to monstrous violence. Instead of investigating the crime—which was their primary duty—the system immediately began smearing the reputation of Giorgi and his family. This is direct proof that they are trying to cover up a horrific truth.”
Meanwhile, the leader of Akhali, Nika Gvaramia, stated that while he was not yet prepared to treat the inmate’s story as an established fact, he demanded detailed public explanations from the Penitentiary Service and the Public Defender. “I do not know who his family is or what their political affiliations were in the past or present. The inmate recounted a shocking story, telling which was extraordinarily difficult and required immense courage. This issue affects him personally, as well as every inmate in this penitentiary facility. And perhaps not only in this prison,” Gvaramia said.
The Lelo – Strong Georgia party also demanded an independent investigation involving international human rights organizations. Irakli Kupradze, the alliance’s Secretary General, emphasized that the video released by the Penitentiary Service does not dispel concerns, but rather raises new ones: “The man wearing medical gloves seen in the footage provides strong grounds to suspect that a crime was indeed committed.”
Sophio Khorguani, a representative of former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia’s party, Gakharia For Georgia, announced plans to utilize parliamentary mechanisms to look into the matter and visit the inmate:
“In the 14th year of Georgian Dream’s rule, horrific reports have emerged of a young man being abused in prison. Regrettably, the ‘Dream’ has turned into a system that has entirely adopted the governing methods of the UNM [United National Movement] regime.”
The issue of violence and torture in Georgian prisons carries profound weight for the country’s public. In 2012, shortly before parliamentary elections, Georgian television channels broadcast video footage from Gldani Prison depicting the beating, humiliation, and sexual assault of inmates. The scandal sparked mass demonstrations and became a defining theme of the election campaign.
Human Rights Watch urged an independent investigation at the time, and the authorities acknowledged serious systemic issues regarding the treatment of detainees. The Minister of Corrections resigned, and several penitentiary officers were arrested.
A few weeks later, on October 1, 2012, parliamentary elections were held, in which the Georgian Dream coalition defeated the ruling United National Movement. Despite subsequent claims that some video materials had allegedly been staged, the prison abuse scandal became an integral element of an acutely tense pre-election environment and played a pivotal role in the transfer of power.
