The British publication The Guardian reports that London’s Royal Opera House has called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene in the case of Georgian opera singer Paata Burchuladze. In a letter published by the outlet, the Royal Opera’s Director of Casting, Peter (Mario) Katona, appeals to the British head of government to address the situation regarding “the world-renowned Georgian opera singer and our dear friend Paata Burchuladze,” who, according to Katona, is in pretrial detention and facing a criminal investigation in Georgia. Katona asserts that the case is being handled by a “pro-Russian authoritarian regime” and describes the charges against Burchuladze as “completely fabricated and illegal.” According to him, the singer is being persecuted solely […]
The British publication The Guardian reports that London’s Royal Opera House has called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene in the case of Georgian opera singer Paata Burchuladze.
In a letter published by the outlet, the Royal Opera’s Director of Casting, Peter (Mario) Katona, appeals to the British head of government to address the situation regarding “the world-renowned Georgian opera singer and our dear friend Paata Burchuladze,” who, according to Katona, is in pretrial detention and facing a criminal investigation in Georgia.
Katona asserts that the case is being handled by a “pro-Russian authoritarian regime” and describes the charges against Burchuladze as “completely fabricated and illegal.”
According to him, the singer is being persecuted solely for his critical stance toward the current government.
In the letter, the Royal Opera House’s casting director noted that Burchuladze has built a distinguished career on its stage, having made his debut there in 1984 and performing regularly over many years.
The letter mentions that the Royal Opera is considering inviting the artist to perform again.
As a reminder, on May 7, 2026, Judge Irakli Khuskivadze of the Tbilisi City Court delivered a verdict in the case concerning the attempted storming of the Georgian President’s palace on Atoneli Street on October 4, 2025, in which 10 people were detained.
All of them, including Paata Burchuladze, were found guilty.
Burchuladze was sentenced to seven years in prison.