Georgian Opposition Leader Aleko Elisashvili Sentenced to 13 Years for Terrorism

A Georgian court on Friday sentenced opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili to 13 years in prison after convicting him on a charge of attempted terrorism. The verdict, reported by the Interpress news agency, stems from an incident in November 2025 and highlights escalating political tensions in the country.

Details of the Verdict

The Tbilisi City Court found Elisashvili, a founder of the Citizens party, guilty of breaking into the court's chancellery building, pouring gasoline, and attempting to set it on fire. According to the court, he smashed a window with a hammer to gain entry.

Elisashvili had pleaded not guilty, framing his actions as a protest against what he described as a government crackdown on the opposition. In his final address to the court, he defended his motives. "I wanted to spit in the face of this government, to show that they cannot oppress us," he said, as cited by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Georgian service. It was not immediately clear if he would appeal the sentence.

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Political Context and EU Relations

The sentencing occurs against a backdrop of increasing concern among government critics over Georgia's political direction. Once seen as a pro-Western democratic model among post-Soviet states, critics now argue the country has become more authoritarian, particularly since the start of the war in Ukraine.

The ruling Georgian Dream party has imprisoned several opposition figures and is pursuing an outright ban on a political grouping that includes Elisashvili's party. The government has accused the opposition of attempting to foment violent coups. These developments have strained Georgia's relationship with the European Union, which the nation aspires to join, due to significant concerns over democratic backsliding.