The Special Penitentiary Service ensures the full provision of food to convicts on a regular basis. However, convict G. Chikvaidze selectively accepts certain types of food and systematically continues provocative actions aimed at discrediting the Penitentiary Service, falsely claiming that the service fails to provide adequate food, which is unequivocally untrue and constitutes slander, according to a statement released by the Special Penitentiary Service in response to information disseminated by Giorgi Chikvaidze’s mother, Ekaterine Tsereteli, claiming that convict Giorgi Chikvaidze and his cellmates began a hunger strike due to the lack of food provision.
The Special Penitentiary Service calls on everyone, including convicts and their associates, to refrain from spreading unverified and false information.
“The Special Penitentiary Service wishes to inform the public and respond to yet another provocative statement by convict G. Chikvaidze’s mother, Ekaterine Tsereteli, claiming that convict G. Chikvaidze and his cellmates began a hunger strike due to the lack of food provision.
For the purpose of providing accurate information to the public, we clarify that on October 25 and 26, 2025, convict G. Chikvaidze and his cellmates were offered breakfast in accordance with the standards set by the joint order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia and the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health, and Social Affairs. They refused the meal, keeping only bread in their cell. They also refused lunch and dinner, stating that they did not want it. Additionally, on October 26, 2025, at approximately 1:22 PM, when the convicts were offered lunch, convict G. Chikvaidze verbally insulted a convict authorized to distribute food in the penitentiary facility, who was accompanied by an on-duty staff member. Convict G. Chikvaidze also failed to comply with the lawful demand of the on-duty staff member to cease this unlawful behavior and continued to verbally insult the convict involved in food distribution.
It should be noted that the Special Penitentiary Service consistently ensures the full provision of food to convicts. However, convict G. Chikvaidze selectively accepts certain types of food and systematically continues provocative actions aimed at discrediting the Penitentiary Service, falsely claiming that the service fails to provide adequate food, which is unequivocally untrue and constitutes slander.
We also clarify that the Penitentiary Service, in accordance with Georgian legislation, responds to any facts related to unlawful actions committed by convicts.
The Special Penitentiary Service calls on everyone, including convicts and their associates, to refrain from spreading unverified and false information aimed at discrediting the service and misleading the public,” the statement reads.
For reference, Ekaterine Tsereteli, the mother of Giorgi Chikvaidze, disseminated information stating that Giorgi Chikvaidze, Irakli Papiashvili, and Anzor Kvaratskhelia, who were convicted of illegally appropriating a large amount of money and detained during protest rallies, began a hunger strike.
As she explains, the reason for the hunger strike is “actions equivalent to torture – the lack of food provision, followed by coercion and ‘old-school’ threats from prison staff.”
Penitentiary Service: Convict Giorgi Chikvaidze selectively accepts certain types of food and systematically continues provocative actions aimed at discrediting the service
