Georgia ends investigation into prisoner’s rape allegations, finds no crime committed

Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has ended its investigation into allegations of sexual assault against prisoner Giorgi Davitadze, saying the evidence showed no criminal act had been committed against him.

Davitadze’s allegations became public on 2 October, when he told the Tbilisi Court of Appeals that prison guards raped him in a de-escalation room at Rustavi Prison No 6. The Special Penitentiary Service denied the allegations and released video footage of the incident, which it said showed no violence. Public Defender Levan Ioseliani also said his office had found no evidence of physical violence in the footage.

Prisoner alleges guards raped him, Penitentiary Service denies claim

Georgia’s Penitentiary Service released footage which they claim shows officers searching and restraining Giorgi Davitadze.

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The case sparked outcry from Davitadze’s family and expressions of solidarity from other prisoners. Many of the detainees who protested claim they were physically and verbally abused for doing so.

‘They beat us’: More inmates claim abuse from staff as Georgia’s prisoner protests continue

The inmates say they are demonstrating in solidarity with Giorgi Davitadze, who alleges prison guards raped him.

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The Prosecutor General’s office said on Saturday that the investigation was launched on 29 December 2025 over alleged abuse of official authority against Davitadze. It claimed the investigation included interviews with dozens of witnesses, the analysis of hours of video footage, and several expert examinations.

The agency said Davitadze was transferred to the prison’s de-escalation room on 21 December 2025 after verbally abusing prison staff, threatening to harm himself, and threatening physical violence against members of the duty unit.

‘During a subsequent personal search, three prison employees restrained him, while one employee searched him by touching his body over his clothes. A metal detector was also used’, the statement read.

Georgian prisoners allege they were punished for expressing solidarity with Giorgi Davitadze

Giorgi Davitadze has alleged prison guards raped him, which the authorities deny.

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The agency said an expert examination of the video footage from the room found no violent actions and no signs that the recordings had been edited. It said the findings ruled out criminal acts against Davitadze.

The agency also said that Davitadze reported the alleged sexual assault during questioning on 12 January 2026, with a lawyer present. The agency noted that he declined a medical examination and reported no physical injuries.

The Prosecutor’s Office added that the employee Davitadze named as the alleged perpetrator did not work at the prison. It also said Davitadze’s account contradicted the evidence collected during the investigation.

Davitadze’s parents accused Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of influencing the investigation’s outcome, with his father, Avtandil Davitadze, claiming that the case had been politically motivated. His mother, Irma Davitadze, alleged that the investigation was concluded in line with the government’s wishes.

Davitadze’s lawyer, Salome Januashvili, told TV Pirveli that the decision would be appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after all domestic legal procedures had been exhausted.

Irakli Kobakhidze commented on Saturday that human rights must be protected ‘everywhere and for everyone’, including Davitadze. He dismissed the allegations as ‘false accusations’ and ‘speculative statements’, adding that the investigation and released video footage had shown ‘the true nature’ of the government and the penitentiary system.