GEORGIA: ACTOR PROTESTER JAILED, DENIED JUSTICE 

Dear Prosecutor General,

I am concerned about the abuse of the criminal justice system in the “group violence” case against Georgian actor Andro Chichinadze, and 10 other protesters, all of them in detention since their arrest during the pro-European protests in Tbilisi in December 2024. Andro Chichinadze and his co-defendants stand accused of “group violence.” Yet, nothing links them together as a group, there is no evidence of organized or coordinated violence at the time of their arrest, and the prosecution has failed to establish key elements of this crime as defined by Article 225 of Georgia’s Criminal Code. The main evidence against Andro Chichinadze is video footage which appears to show him throwing a stick during a protest. The police have failed to demonstrate where the object landed and what harm, if any, it caused. The same video shows the police verbally abusing the protesters.

Andro Chichinadze’s ongoing hearing has been marred by serious fair trial violations. The court accepted unquestioningly police officers’ testimonies, including of an officer who mistakenly identified a co-defendant, who was not even present in the courtroom at the time, as one of the offenders. Meanwhile senior officials publicly described Andro Chichinadze and others as criminals, in violation of their presumption of innocence. At the same time, the court failed to investigate credible allegations of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment raised by some co-defendants.

I therefore urge you to take immediate action to review the legality of Andro Chichinadze’s detention together with 10 co-defendants and ensure their fair retrial or release them immediately. I also demand a prompt and effective investigation into all reported violations of protesters’ human rights by police, including the allegations of torture and other ill-treatment. I also demand an immediate end to the misuse of Georgia’s criminal system to discourage and suppress peaceful protest and other dissent.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]