A special forces officer arrested for an act of violence against Guram Rogava sentenced to 5 years in prison; Rogava claims that the person convicted in the case is a completely different officer, while the actual attacker remains free

A special forces officer arrested for an act of violence against Guram Rogava sentenced to 5 years in prison; Rogava claims that the person convicted in the case is a completely different officer, while the actual attacker remains free

In the case concerning the attack on journalist Guram Rogava, special forces officer Guram Kirkitadze was sentenced to 5 years in prison, along with a 3-year ban on engaging in his professional activities.

Guram Rogava writes on social media that a prosecutor contacted him unexpectedly and informed him of the verdict without having questioned him first.

According to Rogava, the individual convicted in the case is a different special forces officer, while the actual attacker remains at liberty.

"A short while ago, quite unexpectedly, prosecutor Lasha Gamkrelidze called to inform me that the court had delivered its verdict in the assault case today—without ever questioning me. Prior to this, the Prosecutor's Office had made no contact with me whatsoever.

I should also mention that a few weeks before today’s verdict, the prosecutor originally assigned to the case, Giorgi Nadiradze, decided to leave the agency; he even posted on Facebook that he would be continuing his career in the private sector.

As I understand it, he simply didn't have the stomach to see this absurd case through to the end, and he likely feels that by leaving, he has managed to save himself.

I learned today that Lasha Gamkrelidze took over for Giorgi Nadiradze during the final stages of the proceedings.

Gamkrelidze called me for the first time today—he introduced himself, only to immediately say goodbye, informing me that the case had concluded. That is the level of absurdity we are dealing with.

According to my information, the person being prosecuted in this case is a completely different special forces officer, while the actual assailant remains free—likely because he is a key figure in other high-profile, violent cases, and enjoys a guarantee of immunity from the regime," writes Guram Rogava.

For context, in connection with the 2024 protests, the Prosecutor's Office has arrested five individuals for acts of violence committed against protester Zviad Maisashvili, politician Levan Khabeishvili, and journalist Guram Rogava. The detainees include three former and one current member of the special forces, as well as a current employee of the Security Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Two of the special forces members are already in custody in connection with separate, ongoing criminal investigations.

All five individuals have been charged under Article 333, Part 3, Subparagraph 'b' of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to the abuse of official authority involving violence. Additionally, the individual arrested in connection with the incident involving Rogava has been charged under Article 154, Part 2, which concerns the unlawful obstruction of a journalist’s professional activities through the use of violence. These charges carry a potential sentence of 5 to 8 years of imprisonment.