Former MP and Olympic wrestler Luka Kurtanidze placed in pre-trial detention over domestic violence charges

Batumi City Court has ordered pre-trial detention for Luka Eldar Kurtanidze, an Olympic wrestler and former member of Georgia’s parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream party, following multiple domestic violence-related charges. The hearing was held on July 29, and the next session is scheduled for September 17 at 12:00.

The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office requested the strictest preventive measure — imprisonment — while the defense argued for his release on 50,000 GEL bail. The court sided with the prosecution.

Kurtanidze has been charged under several articles of the Georgian Criminal Code, including domestic violence causing physical pain, intentional damage to a family member’s property, and two counts of violating protective order conditions. The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, on July 25, Kurtanidze physically assaulted his ex-wife and damaged her vehicle in the coastal town of Kobuleti. He reportedly breached a court-issued protective order by twice approaching her residence, which he was legally barred from doing. Authorities claim the violence was motivated by “intolerance toward gender equality” and resulted in both physical and emotional harm to the victim. He was arrested the same day.

Kurtanidze, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist (Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000), is one of Georgia’s most decorated wrestlers, having also won two world championships and five European titles. In 2024, he added another world title at the Veterans’ Wrestling Championships in Croatia.

In addition to his sports career, Kurtanidze entered politics in 2010, initially with the opposition before joining Georgian Dream. He briefly served as an MP from 2015 to 2016 and held various administrative roles, including President of the Georgian Wrestling Federation and Head of Physical Training at the Police Academy.