Former MP Arrested in Georgia on Domestic Violence Charges

Former Georgian MP Eldar Kurtanidze, accused of beating his ex-wife, has been taken into custody. The woman, who was diagnosed with injuries, said that she had previously complained to the police about the beatings to no avail.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, the observance of women's rights in Georgia remains at an inadequate level, and the main problem in this area remains violence against them, human rights activists noted in March 2024. Violence against women is a problem in the country, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has acknowledged.

Former MP and European champion in freestyle wrestling Eldar (Luka) Kurtanidze has been arrested on charges of domestic violence, the Georgian Interior Ministry reported on July 27.

"It has been established that the accused violated the requirements of the restraining order issued by the court against him - he contacted his ex-wife and used physical violence against her," Georgia Online quotes the agency's statement as saying.

The investigation is being conducted under Articles 126 Prima and 381 Prima of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provide for imprisonment for up to 2 years.

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Kurtanidze's ex-wife Khatuna Makatsadze reported that she was diagnosed with bruises and a mild concussion. "This is not the second, third, fourth or fifth case. Every time I contacted the police, they told me: since this is Eldar Kurtanidze, let's not sacrifice him and limit ourselves to an accusation of psychological violence. I hope that now, during the trial, when the police have witnessed this physical violence, they will no longer talk about psychological violence," the publication quoted her as saying.

Makatsadze noted that the court banned Eldar Kurtanidze from approaching her for nine months, and this ban is still in effect, the publication notes.

Recall that human rights activists have previously repeatedly pointed out problems with women's rights in Georgia. In particular, in January 2024, the non-governmental organization "Center for Social Justice" called on the country's authorities to protect women from violence.

In many regions of the Caucasus, spousal violence remains the main source of threat to women. The problem of domestic violence in this region is exacerbated by the position of women in society and the family, where victims traditionally avoid seeking outside help, human rights activists interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" said in April 2018.