Khoshtaria arrives at clinic in wheelchair
Footage from Sando Tskaro shows Elene Khoshtaria, the leader of the Droa party, arriving at Todua Clinic in a wheelchair for medical examinations. Georgia’s Special Penitentiary Service told OC Media that the examination was prescribed by her doctor and that she returned to prison afterward. Khoshtaria told reporters she uses a wheelchair only for long distances and mostly walks with a cane. She noted that doctors Maka Ioseliani and Ani Kavtaradze are providing care and that she is feeling better. While she said she has no complaints about the prison administration, I find her accusation that Georgian Dream is responsible for the harm to her health more compelling. Transparency International Georgia reported that Khoshtaria has an inflammatory spinal condition and noted that she had been experiencing difficulties walking without a cane and holding a pen months before her imprisonment. The organization described her as a political prisoner and said her detention is incompatible with international standards prohibiting inhuman or degrading treatment. I see the comparison made by Georgian Dream MP Giorgi Volski to former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who also appeared in a wheelchair while imprisoned, as a dismissive tactic. Volski noted he has known Khoshtaria since childhood and said she had different views when they first met.
Political consequences for the ‘Russian Dream’ act
Khoshtaria is serving an 18-month sentence in a women’s prison near Rustavi following her detention in October 2025. On 14 September, prosecutors charged her with damaging property after she wrote ‘Russian Dream’ on an election banner. The banner sat on the facade of a campaign headquarters for Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, who also serves as the Secretary General of the ruling party. Khoshtaria acted in solidarity with 23-year-old Megi Diasamidze, who was detained a few days earlier for spray painting the same phrase on another banner and was later released on bail. Khoshtaria refused to pay bail and received a sentence on 24 March for the alleged damage. I find the fact that she faces additional charges in a ‘sabotage’ case involving seven other politicians, which could lead to a 15-year sentence, to be a massive escalation.
| Legal and Medical Details | Data |
|---|---|
| Sentence duration | 18 months |
| Sentencing date | 24 March |
| Maximum potential sentence | 15 years |
| Age of co-protestor | 23 |
European Parliament member Rasa Jukneviciene stated on X that Khoshtaria’s health deteriorated behind bars and that the ruling party bears full responsibility. The European Parliament also adopted a resolution in March condemning the politically motivated arrests. Volski mentioned that Khoshtaria could reach a plea bargain if she admits the charges against her. Her lawyer, Shota Tutberidze, previously warned on 17 June that she could suffer irreversible harm without medical care due to severe joint pain and restricted mobility.
