In connection with the act of violence against Davit Peikrishvili, so-called "criminal authorities" - Vato Kipiani, Avtandil Bilanishvili, Shota Kipiani, Pavle Gotsiridze, and Davit Kacharava - have been placed in pre-trial detention

So-called criminal authorities Vato Kipiani, Avtandil Bilanishvili, Shota Kipiani, Pavle Gotsiridze, and Davit Kacharava have been remanded in custody as a preventive measure over the assault committed against Davit Peikrishvili in a prison cell.

The decision was made by Tbilisi City Court Judge Levan Gelovan.

None of the defendants attended the hearing.

At today's session, the court deliberated on applying a preventive measure against the detainees.

The Prosecutor's Office requested the strictest preventive measure—pre-trial detention—for all the defendants.

According to Prosecutor Tamar Kuljanishvili, both formal and factual grounds exist for placing the defendants in custody. The prosecutor emphasized the nature of the crime and the act committed against health, as a result of which Davit Peikrishvili sustained multiple bodily injuries.

Furthermore, according to Kuljanishvili, the group violence continued for several days. She also focused on the personal characteristics of the defendants.

According to the state prosecutor, Shota Kipiani was convicted in 2023 for intentional grave bodily harm; he was also convicted of extortion and given a suspended sentence.

Avtandil Bilanishvili also has a prior criminal record, including weapons-related offenses, and has unexecuted court rulings against him.

According to the state prosecutor, Davit Kacharava has also been convicted of intentional crimes.

As Kuljanishvili explained, Pavle Gotsiridze has likewise been convicted multiple times in the past for committing intentional crimes.

The defense disagreed with the prosecution's motion. According to Marika Pkhaladze, the lawyer representing Vato Kipiani and the other individuals, there are neither factual nor formal grounds for applying detention in this case. Pkhaladze stated that the only evidence the prosecution possesses is Peikrishvili's testimony, which changed during the investigation stage. According to the lawyer, contradictory information provided by Peikrishvili should not serve as grounds for detention.

Additionally, the lawyer stated that a representative of the Public Defender met with Peikrishvili, to whom he did not report any assault, stating instead that he sustained the injuries from falling out of bed.

According to Pkhaladze, 4 out of the 5 defendants are already under pre-trial detention, while Pavle Gotsiridze is already a convicted prisoner; therefore, she saw no necessity for applying detention.

According to Avtandil Bilanishvili's lawyer, Tamar Abesadze, her client is already in custody, and grounds for re-imposing detention no longer exist.

Abesadze stated that applying detention again to a person already remanded in custody violates his rights. According to the lawyer, no preventive measure of any kind should be applied to her client.

In response to the judge's question as to whether Giorgi Pataridze and Ramaz Pirtskhalava are detained or what the Prosecutor's Office is requesting, the prosecution replied that they are not detained and that they are requesting bail for them.

Judge Levan Gelovan granted the prosecution's motion.

As for the former Director General of the Special Penitentiary Service, Giorgi Pataridze, and the former Director of Gldani Penitentiary Establishment No. 8, Ramaz Pirtskhalava, their case will be reviewed separately; the time of the hearing is unknown.

For reference, the Prosecutor's Office filed charges against the former Director General of the Special Penitentiary Service Giorgi Pataridze, the former Director of Penitentiary Establishment No. 8 Ramaz Pirtskhalava, and the so-called criminal authorities Vato Kipiani, Shota Kipiani, Avtandil Bilanishvili, Pavle Gotsiridze, and Davit Kacharava over the beating of inmate Davit Peikrishvili—who is linked to criminal circles—inside his cell. The investigation charges Giorgi Pataridze with exceeding official powers, and Ramaz Pirtskhalava with abuse of official authority. As for the so-called criminal authorities, they have been charged under the article covering intentional less grave bodily harm committed by a group against Davit Peikrishvili.