GYLA calls for effective, independent investigation into alleged sexual violence charges against Davitadze

The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA) states that charges published in October 2026 concerning alleged sexual violence against prisoner Giorgi Davitadze, as well as alleged physical and psychological violence against him and other persons, require an effective, independent and objective investigation. The organization has published an extensive assessment of alleged ill-treatment of Davitadze in the penitentiary institution.

According to GYLA, the legitimate questions the public raises about the credibility of the investigation are reinforced by the ineffective investigation of high-profile cases of ill-treatment of protest participants by state representatives in recent years, and by the deterioration of the institutional framework.

According to the organization's assessment, the video material distributed by the Special Penitentiary Service does not in itself rule out the possibility of an act of sexual violence. GYLA considers particularly problematic the categorical statements made in advance by high-ranking officials that the charges do not correspond to the truth. In its view, these statements made during the ongoing investigation, and the completion of the investigation shortly afterward, raise additional questions and well-founded doubts in society about the impartiality and credibility of the investigation.

GYLA says that it had been collecting data from the first days after the case became public in order to objectively document and assess Davitadze's case. The methodology was based on the ethical principles of working with open-source information in line with the "Berkeley Protocol", as well as the "Istanbul Protocol" - the manual on the effective investigation and documentation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

In order to document the facts, GYLA met Davitadze directly on October 7. Before that, on October 6, a GYLA lawyer met Saba Skhvitaridze in the penitentiary institution as well, whose interests the organization is defending in a separate torture case. The GYLA lawyer was also at the penitentiary to visit Davitadze on October 12.

In GYLA's assessment, it is alarming that after the meeting with Davitadze on October 7, the lawyer was not allowed to take out the notes made during the meeting with the prisoner when leaving the institution. The organization regards this as a gross interference with advocacy and human rights work.

GYLA also points out that after information about alleged sexual violence against Davitadze was published, a number of other prisoners disseminated information about alleged violence against them. Part of the allegations concern the punishment of other prisoners for expressing solidarity with Davitadze, while part describes cases of violence that are not connected to the alleged incident involving Davitadze.