Georgia's jailed opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria faces worsening health behind bars

Elene Khoshtaria, leader of Georgia’s opposition Droa party, is serving a 1.5-year prison sentence. She was convicted for writing on an election banner belonging to the ruling Georgian Dream party. The incident occurred just before local elections in October 2025, when she wrote 'Russian Dream' in solidarity with another activist, Megi Diasamidze. Khoshtaria’s health has been declining for about four months. Her lawyer, Shota Tutberidze, reported that she suffers from severe joint pain and restricted mobility. Turkish doctors examined her and warned that without proper treatment, she could eventually need a wheelchair to move.

In June, Khoshtaria’s legal team formally requested a treatment plan from the prison authorities. They have not yet received a response. Tutberidze has also warned that without adequate medical care, she risks irreversible harm to her health.

The Penitentiary Service rejected Tutberidze’s concerns, calling them 'disinformation'. They claimed Khoshtaria has not raised any complaints about her medical care. However, her party, Droa, disputed this, stating her condition is worsening and that her current treatment only addresses individual symptoms rather than the underlying issues.

Criticism has also been directed at the prison’s medical staff and director. Their approach to her case has been described as 'sporadic, unsystematic, and ineffective' by observers. Khoshtaria remains in a women’s prison near Rustavi. The dispute over her medical treatment continues, with her legal team and party pushing for better care. The Penitentiary Service maintains that her complaints are unfounded, but concerns about her deteriorating health persist.