Trial Continues for Activist Temur Katamadze in Tbilisi Court
The trial of activist Temur Katamadze is currently underway at the Tbilisi City Court. Katamadze himself attended the hearing. During the trial, he shared details about the psychological pressure he claims to have faced from the Migration Department and a clinic called Vivamedi.
Katamadze stated that additional time was needed to gather necessary documentation for his case, which is why he asked for the court session to be postponed. He explained in court documents that the Migration Department had subjected him to intentional delays and restrictions on his rights. After ending a 48-day hunger strike, Katamadze was taken to Vivamedi clinic for treatment. However, he claims the clinic’s administration worked with the Migration Department to endanger his life by providing inadequate nutrition.
Katamadze described the situation as “hell” at the clinic, saying that only God saved him from serious harm. He claimed that both the Migration Department and Vivamedi staff subjected him to psychological pressure, breaking his willpower and forcing him into submission. As a result, he stopped his treatment and returned to the migration facility.
Katamadze filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office on March 17, asking for an investigation into what he saw as a crime committed against him. He believes that the Migration Department is trying to expel him from Georgia for political reasons.
The opposing party, represented by the Border Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, argued that Katamadze’s request to postpone the hearing was unjustified and that the session should proceed as planned.
Katamadze’s lawyer, Mariam Gabroshvili, said that her client was seeking refugee or humanitarian status in Georgia due to perceived danger if he were to travel to Turkey. She noted that Katamadze had been denied asylum three times by the state despite meeting necessary criteria.
For context, Temur Katamadze was initially detained under administrative procedures but was later arrested again and accused of lacking legal residency status in Georgia.
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