Georgian Dream Sakrebulo member charged with sexual assault and violence

Ilia Jishkariani, a Georgian Dream deputy of Tbilisi City Assembly (Sakrebulo), who was accused by his assistant Tamta Todadze of sexual assault and beating, has been charged by the Prosecutor’s Office. Besides, Todadze was recognized as a victim.

Jishkariani was charged under Article 138, part 2 A sub-clause, which entails a violent act of a sexual nature committed by abusing one’s official position; and Article 126 part 1 (regular beating or other violence that has caused the victim physical or mental pains, but did not entail intentional serious damage to health or less grave bodily injury that is not dangerous for life) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

The first charge entails punishment by imprisonment for a term of eight to ten years, while under the second one the offender is punished by restriction of liberty for up to two years or with imprisonment for a term of one to three years.

After the accusations, Jishkariani spoke exclusively with the news platform InterPressNews from a hospital, where he stays due to his poor health. As he says, bringing the charges against him was shocking.

“This is a false accusation, very heavy but false. I do not admit to doing it,” says Jishkariani. “Whatever the law stipulates, whether it be a court or investigative action, I am ready to cooperate in everything. I have never gotten in the way, nor have I refused to assist the investigation. I already gave a testimony about what happened,” adds the Sakrebulo member.

Jishkariani plans to fight to prove his truth.

“Truth be told, I didn't expect to be charged. From where? How? That was shocking to me. When I heard this, I could feel the force leaving my hands and feet, I was in a terrible state. Now I am starting to fight and the society, my parents, my constituents, my relatives and you will see it too,” Jishkariani said.

Todadze, who got the chance to see the investigative materials is confident that she will not have a hard time proving her truth.

“I was introduced to the case materials. I can honestly say that the Prosecutor's Office has carried out several investigative actions. I would also like to point out that the majority of the investigative action was carried out only after I made the accusations public. This has already been done after this report has been covered. I am completely satisfied with the materials that I had the chance to see. I have said it before, and I will repeat it now, I am not afraid to prove my truth. I cannot speak about specific details directly because I signed a nondisclosure agreement, but I can say with confidence that I will not have a hard time proving my truth,” Todadze said.

She also demands the detention of Jishkariani, and suspension of his Sakrebulo mandate.

“My main demands are for his mandate to be suspended and he is arrested, because, in such a situation where there is a great deal of power and influence, there is a high likelihood that the witnesses will be put under pressure,” stressed Todadze.

Jishkariani’s lawyer Mariam Kublashvili says that the Sakrebulo deputy is the real victim in the situation, accusing Todadze of demanding a raise and asking for recommendations from Jishkariani.

“The indictment says as if my client kissed the woman in the neck and then hugged her. It doesn’t say, however, what prevented him from acting if he had any intentions [to rape]. It is surprising that according to it, he used violence, but didn’t attempt to rape her, so he had no motive,” says Jishkariani’s lawyer. “The charges are based on only one person’s testimony. My side is the victim and he’s getting punished,” she adds.

Kublashvili also accuses women’s rights groups of bullying her.

“Bullying and aggression come directly from women’s rights defenders ... [in doing so] they violate the rights of a female lawyer when I exercise my authority...,” notes Kublashvili.

She also says she doesn’t experience any discomfort defending a man accused of sexual abuse because she thinks that Tamta Todadze has sacrificed a “man of his father’s age”.

“I don’t have any discomfort when a woman sacrifices a man of his father’s age just to pursue her agenda, blame him for something that he really didn’t do, attack him and then proclaim herself as a victim, I don’t think I should have any discomfort with her,” states Kublashvili.

Kublashvili thinks that not only Todadze but his former teammates, the Georgian Dream also sacrificed him.

“The process got political, the ruling team sacrificed my client. From the beginning, I saw that he was a victim and he was sacrificed, so I got involved. I saw that he really needed protection and was in a weaker position,” says the lawyer.

Todadze came forward with her story a few days ago, the incident happened on September 30. The Sakrebulo employee alleged that deputy Jishkariani attempted to have sexual intercourse with her and after rejection, he used violence, during which the office equipment broke.

Many people came forward to support Todadze, including certain members of the ruling team; while others accused her of being a liar. Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said it would be impossible to commit such a crime for the man he has known for several years and knows the “life he lives.”

The Public Defender of Georgia issued a special statement, noting that the Office will monitor the progress of the investigation and will communicate closely with the alleged victim and her lawyers.

The alleged perpetrator remains in a hospital due to unpublicized health issues.