**Protester Sentenced to 4 Years and 6 Months in Jail Over Alleged Molotov Cocktail Incident**
A Tbilisi City Court has sentenced Anzor (Anri) Kvaratskhelia, a 26-year-old protester, to four years and six months in jail for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail towards riot police during the ongoing protests against Georgian Dream. The verdict is the seventh guilty ruling against protesters arrested since November 2024.
Kvaratskhelia was detained early in December and charged with assaulting police, which carries a prison sentence of four to seven years. However, his defense has consistently denied the allegations, pointing out that there is no concrete evidence to support the claim. In fact, a forensic report from Georgia’s key forensics agency, Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau, concluded that it was impossible to identify the alleged perpetrator.
**Video Evidence Debated**
The prosecution presented video evidence showing two episodes allegedly featuring Kvaratskhelia. The first episode shows him uncovering his face and making a provocative gesture towards police during a protest. However, the second episode appears to show someone igniting a Molotov cocktail and throwing it towards riot police. While the defense acknowledges that Kvaratskhelia features in the first episode, they dispute that it is possible to identify him as the person in the second video.
**Expert Testimony Contradicts Prosecution**
An expert from Levan Samkharauli National Forensics Bureau testified in court that the images in the second footage are “useless” in identifying a perpetrator. The expert, Mariam Rogava, added that a habitoscopic study cannot be conducted based on a person’s clothing.
**Police Testimonies Not Convincing**
Two riot police officers, Nika Chavleishvili and Simon Gambashidze, testified in court, but their testimonies did not seem to convince the judges. They denied being injured and said they were unable to identify the perpetrator. However, they did confirm that the petrol bomb fell short of the riot police cordon and ignited.
**Concerns Over Impartiality**
The verdict comes as no police officer has been held accountable despite numerous documented abuses during dispersals. Dozens of protesters remain in jail on criminal charges, convicted or awaiting their verdicts. Critics have raised concerns over the impartiality of the judiciary, with many arguing that the system is not working in favor of those who are fighting for justice and democracy.
**Background**
Kvaratskhelia was arrested during an early-morning police raid on his home on December 5, 2024. His wife, Nutsa Eremiani, later recounted the raid as traumatizing and said she suffered an early miscarriage shortly afterward. The protests began in response to Georgian Dream’s announcement to halt EU accession.
**Political Prisoners**
A recently created civic platform, Politpatimrebi.ge, lists 66 persons who were jailed in 2024-2025 and are considered political prisoners. This includes eight individuals, including six active opposition politicians, who were sentenced to prison terms of several months for defying the Georgian Dream investigative commission.
**International Concerns**
The European Union’s Kallas has expressed “disturbed” and “deeply concerned” over Georgia’s deteriorating situation. The international community is closely watching the developments in the country, and many are calling for greater accountability and justice to be served.
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