Georgia’s Penitentiary Service Head Resigns Amid Probe Into Prison Violence Allegations

Giorgi Pataridze, head of the Georgian Special Penitentiary Service, resigned after the Prosecutor’s Office recommended that the Justice Ministry suspend him amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged assault of an inmate. He was reportedly replaced by Ramaz Tatarashvili, who had previously headed the Shida Kartli regional police department.

The reports about Pataridze filing a resignation request came after the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to the media that it was recommending Pataridze’s suspension, after the Prosecutor General’s Office took over the investigation into the case concerning Davit Peikrishvili, a detainee who has been hospitalized twice with multiple injuries following alleged physical assault by cellmates.

The Penitentiary Service confirmed to Interpressnews on October 26 that Pataridze has left the post.

Peikrishvili, a figure associated with Georgia’s criminal underworld, was detained together with his twin brother in September on charges of “legalizing illicit revenues in large amounts.” He was hospitalized with multiple injuries twice, on October 19 and October 20, with his lawyer and family alleging that he was assaulted by a group of cellmates that included Vato Kipiani and Avtandil (“Katsro”) Bilanishvili, figures also associated with the criminal underworld with a reported history of conflict with the Peikrishvili brothers.

Peikrishvili’s lawyer further alleged that Kipiani and Bilanishvili, detained on October 15 on group violence charges, were deliberately placed in the same cell with the inmate, leading to the alleged abuse. The lawyer and Peikrishvili’s mother also argued that the alleged attackers had demanded the passcode to the inmate’s phone.

On October 20, the Ministry of Justice said it had launched an investigation into “the fact of bodily harm caused to prisoner Davit Peikrishvili.”

Later, the Prosecutor’s Office told Interpressnews outlet that the case was forwarded from the Ministry’s General Inspectorate to the Prosecutor General’s Office for investigation.

Pataridze was appointed as the head of Georgia’s prison agency in August 2025, after his predecessor, Bezhan Obgaidze, resigned amid the probe into reports of beating of Giorgi Bachiashvili, a former aide to Bidzina Ivanishvili jailed at the time for embezzling cryptocurrency.

Pataridze’s resignation also follows a recent series of prison controversies, including allegations of sexual abuse at the hands of prison guards, as well as ensuing reports of prison tensions and physical violence.

Also Read:

• 15/10/2026 – Inmate Died at Kutaisi Prison After Reportedly Falling From Bunk Bed, Penitentiary Service Says
• 05/10/2026 – Family Disputes Suicide Account After Inmate Is Found Dead in Rustavi Prison
• 20/05/2026 – Georgia Has Fourth-Highest Prison Population Rate in Council of Europe’s 2025 Report

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