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At the Tbilisi City Court, the trials of activists detained for participating in pro-European rallies are held amid turmoil. The cause is often the verbal abuse and physical violence by court bailiffs against civil activists, journalists, and politicians attending the hearings. Tensions have particularly escalated since the Georgian Dream banned video recording in the courtrooms.

On July 22, 2025, the head of the Court Bailiff Service, Davit Matiashvili, forcibly expelled Nodar Chachanidze, a member of the political movement 'Akhali,' from the court building for sitting on a bench in the corridor. The same individual confiscated the phone of Publika’s editor Zurab Vardiashvili for filming the incident and dragged him into the bailiff’s office, where he took his ID and threatened him with legal consequences.

"According to Article 62 of the Organic Law of Georgia on Common Courts, a court bailiff is authorized to use physical force, special means, and even firearms in the course of exercising their official duties, but only if it is impossible to fulfill their duties by applying other, less severe measures. Moreover, the court bailiff is obligated to use physical force, special means, or firearms in proportion to the nature of the threat, ensuring that any harm caused is minimized; in any case when physical force, special means, or firearms are used, the bailiff shall submit a written report to the Court Chairperson within 24 hours.

Human Rights Center believes that the Court Bailiff Service of the Tbilisi City Court and its employees are using physical force against civil activists, journalists, and politicians in gross violation of the law and disregarding the nature of the threat. Additionally, they verbally abuse the above-mentioned individuals and, upon receiving a response to the abuse, start using physical force. Consequently, the actions of the court bailiffs reveal signs of criminal offence, such as those defined under Article 333, Part 3, subparagraphs (a), (b), and (c) of the Criminal Code of Georgia (abuse of official authority by a public official or equivalent person, committed repeatedly, with violence or use of a weapon, and involving degradation of the victim's personal dignity). Nevertheless, investigations were never initiated against the bailiffs but against the victims.

Human Rights Center calls on the High Council of Justice of Georgia to ensure that court bailiffs inevitably comply with Georgian legislation, particularly the requirements of the Organic Law of Georgia on Common Courts, when carrying out their official duties. Court bailiffs must use physical force only in cases provided by the law and in accordance with established procedures, proportionately to the nature of the threat, and in a manner that minimizes any potential harm.

Additionally, Human Rights Center calls on the Prosecutor General's Office of Georgia to examine both the incident of July 22, 2025, and other recent cases involving the abuse of authority by court bailiffs at the Tbilisi City Court, particularly by the head of the Bailiff Service, Davit Matiashvili. HRC requests to start an investigation and, if signs of criminal offense are identified, those responsible shall be held accountable.

Human Rights Center