Irakli Miminoshvili

Apprehended

Tortured

Violence

Prisoner

I. Miminoshvili

Irakli
Miminoshvili

«Greetings to everyone, first of all to my family. I want you to know I'm fine. Thank you to the people who come out for us and haven't given up for a single day. In these past three months, I've thought about people's values and what kind of people I have around me. I realized that the best people surround me, because they always stand by my side. Mom, I love you, Liza, I love you, Nini, will you marry me?»
—Irakli Miminoshvili

In the aftermath of pro-European protests in Tbilisi, 19-year-old student Irakli Miminoshvili found himself at the center of a contentious legal battle. Arrested on December 4th following a lengthy search of his residence, Miminoshvili, who also worked as a courier, had been an active participant in the demonstrations, though he maintained no affiliation with any political or activist groups.

The circumstances surrounding his arrest raised serious concerns. Days before, an unmarked vehicle was observed surveilling his home. On the day of his arrest, law enforcement officers, many in plain clothes, conducted a search without his lawyer present, seizing electronic devices. His sister, Liza Miminoshvili, recounted the aggressive entry by police, their refusal to answer questions, and the subsequent denial of information regarding his whereabouts. Notably, his lawyer, Shota Tutberidze, stated that Miminoshvili was denied the ability to contact his parents upon his arrest, causing them to search for him overnight.

Miminoshvili, along with seven others—Vepkhia Kasradze, Vasil Kadzelashvili, Giorgi Gorgadze, Isak Aliyev, Tornike Goshadze, Zviad Tsetskhladze, and Nikoloz Javakhishvili—was charged under articles 225 and 18, 229 of the criminal code, encompassing offenses such as organizing or participating in group violence and preparing an explosion. The prosecution, led by Vaja Todua and Shmagi Gobejishvili, presented video evidence purporting to show Miminoshvili throwing objects at police. The prosecution's narrative depicted the defendants as a coordinated group, with some acting as organizers and others as participants in planned acts of violence. The prosecution also stated that during the protests, damage was done to the parliament building. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is conducting investigations into protest activities under several articles of the criminal code.

Judge Irakli Khuskivadze ordered the detention of the eight individuals, a decision that has been heavily criticized by the defense. They argue that the evidence presented was obtained illegally, citing unlawful searches and questionable video footage. The defense team, led by Shota Tutberidze, challenged the admissibility of the prosecution's evidence, raising concerns about its origin and legality. Furthermore, they criticized the court proceedings, highlighting instances of poor conditions during hearings and what they perceive as a politically biased judiciary. The defense also motioned to recuse Judge Davit Mgeliashvili, stating he incorrectly deemed prosecutorial evidence as admissible. The judge denied that motion.

During court proceedings, Miminoshvili made a public statement, sending messages to his family, and proposing to his girlfriend. The case has been moved to substantive review, with the next hearing scheduled for March 24th. The legal proceedings have drawn attention to concerns about due process and the handling of protest-related arrests in Georgia.

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