Nino Datashvili’s human rights defender: The Prosecutor’s Office has resorted to a new method of targeting activists — it requested a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation for Datashvili without any grounds, and the court approved it
According to the organization Partnership for Human Rights, the Prosecutor’s Office has requested a psychiatric evaluation for detained activist Nino Datashvili, and the court has granted this request.
The organization claims that the Prosecutor’s Office is pursuing this matter without any legal basis. According to Tamuna Gabodze, the head of Partnership for Human Rights, the court authorized the involuntary transfer of Nino Datashvili to a psychiatric facility.
“The Prosecutor’s Office has resorted to a new method of suppressing activists. In Nino Datashvili’s case, it unlawfully and groundlessly requested a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, meaning they asked the court to assess her without any legal criteria or basis. The court approved this motion. Nino Datashvili was not allowed to participate in the hearing, as she was not informed about the process or what was being discussed against her. The court stated that if she refuses to undergo the evaluation, proportionate coercive measures will be applied — in other words, the court authorized her involuntary transfer a psychiatric institution,” said Tamuna Gabodze.
As for the prosecution’s motion, it is based on medical records previously shared by the defense at the initial hearing. These records indicate that Nino Datashvili has a severe spinal condition, including intervertebral disc damage and hernia, as well as sciatica. One of the listed accompanying symptoms was emotional lability, which refers to mood swings, crying, and heightened emotions observed in 2019 as a result of her spinal issues. This is not a diagnosis but a symptom of her overall medical condition. The Prosecutor’s Office was already aware of this during the first hearing,” Gabodze explained.
To recall, Nino Datashvili was arrested on June 20 in connection with an incident that occurred on June 9. She has been charged under Article 353¹, Part 3 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which concerns assault on a public official during the performance of their duties. The punishment for this offense includes either a fine or imprisonment for a term of 4 to 7 years.
