Detained activist granted temporary release to attend mother’s funeral

Giorgi Akhobadze, a doctor and active participant in pro-European protests, has been granted temporary release from Gldani Penitentiary No. 8 to attend his mother’s funeral. The release will be for a few hours on January 18, the day of the funeral.

Before his arrest, Akhobadze had been caring for his seriously ill mother, who suffered a stroke and was bedridden, unable to speak. His lawyer, Lasha Tsutskiridze, confirmed that a request had been made to the Penitentiary Service for Akhobadze’s temporary release.

Akhobadze had previously spoken about his mother’s health at a court hearing on December 10, where his legal team filed a motion to release him on bail, instead of keeping him in prison.

“I have the responsibility to care for and look after my mother,” Akhobadze stated, emphasizing the urgency of his role in her care.
Akhobadze, who was arrested on December 7, 2024, after returning from a protest on Rustaveli Avenue, is facing serious charges. He has been charged under Article 260, Part 6 of the Criminal Code for the illegal purchase and storage of large quantities of narcotic drugs, with a potential sentence of 8 to 20 years or even life imprisonment.

Akhobadze has pleaded not guilty to the charges, calling the “planting” of drugs and his arrest a “spectacle.”