12:35, 7 October 2025

An activist detained in Tbilisi reported being beaten and threatened

Vakho Pitskhelauri, detained after a protest in Tbilisi, told his lawyer that he faced physical violence, insults, and threats during his arrest.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on the evening of October 6, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported the detention of 13 people in connection with the events of October 4. Two more suspects are wanted. The case is being investigated under articles of incitement to overthrow the government, seizure or blockade of a strategic or special facility (the presidential palace), organizing or participating in group violence, and intentional damage to property.

On October 4, the day of municipal elections, thousands of people gathered in central Tbilisi. After opera singer Paata Burchaladze declared that power in Georgia belongs to the people, clashes broke out between protesters and security forces near the presidential palace. Security forces used riot gear, while protesters used firecrackers. Six protesters and 21 security forces were hospitalized, and another 30 people received medical treatment on the spot. Police have opened a criminal case in connection with calls to overthrow the government, an attack on police officers, and an attempt to storm the palace.

Activist Vakho Pitskhelauri faced physical violence, verbal abuse, and threats during his arrest in connection with the events of October 4, his lawyer, Giorgi Chkheidze, reported.

"I was already in custody. During the arrest itself, at a minimum, there was excessive force, physical and verbal abuse, and threats. Vakho does not know the other [detainees], as he himself told me," Interpressnews quotes him as saying today.

In January, Vakho Pitskhelauri, who participated in daily protests in support of Georgia's European integration, was abducted and beaten by unknown assailants. He managed to escape and assumed that the kidnapping was related to his participation in the protests. "During the beating, they told him they knew who he was and what he did, that they would kill him if he didn't stop going to rallies. Vakho Pitskhelauri has a wife and two small children," Teona Pankevelashvili, an acquaintance of Pitskhelauri, told the Caucasian Knot on January 27.

Four of the 13 detained are members of the UNM

Among those detained are four members of the United National Movement party: Alexander Khabeishvili, Sergo Megrelishvili, Abo Naveriani, and Kakha Mzhavanadze, the party stated.

"The regime's goal is to intimidate patriots, but they don't understand that the Georgian people will never reconcile," Georgia quotes a statement from the United National Movement today. Online".

As a reminder, municipal elections were held in all municipalities of Georgia on October 4, with 64 mayors and 2,058 local council members elected for four-year terms. Eight opposition parties refused to participate in the elections; only the opposition parties "Lelo - Strong Georgia" and "Gakharia - For Georgia" did not support the boycott and nominated their own candidates.

Candidates from the ruling "Georgian Dream" were elected mayors in all 64 cities where elections were held, receiving 100% of the vote in 26 of them. These elections will determine the political balance in Georgia for the coming years. The next major elections in the country are scheduled for 2028, so the current vote is essentially a crucial one for both the government and the opposition, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Municipal Elections in Georgia on October 4, 2025."

The attempt to seize the presidential palace was doomed to failure and gave the current government a new opportunity to exert pressure on the opposition. Analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" indicated that a peaceful change of power remains only if the opposition overcomes its disunity.