Prosecutor General of Georgia Giorgi Gvarakidze met with Gaioz Charkviani regarding the death of Vakhtang Charkviani during the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was attended by Tamar Bezhuashvili, Chairwoman of the Council for Reviewing Complaints of Victims of Cases of Encroachment on Life. At the meeting, Gaioz Charkviani was once again provided with information about the details of the criminal case, the progress of the investigation, and the investigative and procedural measures taken. Gaioz Charkviani also received answers to all questions of interest to him.

It was also agreed at the meeting that the Council for Reviewing Complaints of Victims of Encroachment on Life Cases will continue to study the criminal case, in which Gaioz Charkviani will be involved, and the results will be reported to the public.

In order to once again inform the public about the ongoing criminal case into the death of Vakhtang Charkviani, we would like to announce that the investigation into the death of Vakhtang Charkviani was initiated by the Vake-Saburtalo Main Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on October 8, 2021, based on the statement of Vakhtang Charkviani`s father, Gaioz Charkviani, and within the framework of the ongoing criminal case, the Prosecutor`s Office of Georgia has carried out criminal prosecution against 3 individuals.

Gaioz Charkviani, as his successor, is directly involved in the investigation process and is systematically informed about the progress of the investigation.

Hundreds of investigative and procedural actions were carried out in the case, including medical, information-technological and other types of examinations, dozens of witnesses were interviewed, including specialists in the relevant field, and others.

The investigation determined that on August 11, 2021, with a diagnosis of infection (COVID-19) caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), Vakhtang Charkviani was admitted to the Academician Nikoloz Kipshidze Central University Clinic LLC (the so-called "Republican"), where he was treated in the therapeutic department from August 12 to August 17, 2021, and on August 17, he was transferred to the intensive care unit.

The investigation also established that the head of the therapeutic department of Nikoloz Kipshidze University Clinic LLC - Ketevan Tsertsvadze and the doctor of the same department - Ketevan Lobzhanidze improperly performed their official duties and violated the rules for clinical management of infection caused by the new coronavirus, which led to the deterioration of Vakhtang Charkviani’s health condition. In particular, on August 14, 2021, they began the patient`s antibiotic therapy, and later changed it, without conducting a bacteriological study, which was mandatory according to the relevant guideline. Thus, antibiotic therapy was initiated and subsequently adjusted in such a way that it was not known whether Vakhtang Charkviani was infected with bacteria or not, and the antimicrobial resistance profile was not determined, which further complicated his treatment process.

As a result of the above, a serious consequence occurred - in the form of a deterioration in Vakhtang Charkviani's health condition. In particular, on August 17, 2021, due to a worsening of his health condition, Vakhtang Charkviani was transferred to the intensive care unit of the Academician Nikoloz Kipshidze Central University Clinic LLC, where he died on September 10, 2021.

At the same time, the investigation revealed that Tea Begiashvili, the head nurse of the resuscitation department of Nikoloz Kipshidze University Clinic LLC, falsified the document that made up Vakhtang Charkviani`s medical history – "Patient Prescription Sheets", where she signed instead of the nurses on duty, thereby entering incorrect information into the document, as if the medical manipulations performed on the patient were performed by her, while in reality she did not perform the aforementioned medical manipulations and did not participate in their conduct.

As we mentioned, within the framework of the ongoing criminal case on the death of Vakhtang Charkviani, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia initiated criminal prosecution against 3 individuals, namely:

On January 23, 2023, Tea Begiashvili, the head nurse of the resuscitation department of Nikoloz Kipshidze University Clinic LLC, was charged under Part 1 of Article 362 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, and by the verdict of the Tbilisi City Court of February 19, 2024, Tea Begiashvili was found guilty of the charges and the form and length of the sentence was determined as 1 year and 6 months of imprisonment. The verdict remained in force in the courts of higher instance.

In the same case, on November 24, 2023, charges were brought against Ketevan Tsertsvadze, the head of the therapeutic department of Nikoloz Kipshidze University Clinic LLC, under Part 2 of Article 220 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, and by the verdict of the Tbilisi City Court of November 6, 2025, Ketevan Tsertsvadze was found guilty of the charges and the type and length of the sentence was determined as 2 years and 6 months of imprisonment. By the same verdict, based on the prior consent of Vakhtang Charkviani’s successor - Gaioz Charkviani, an amnesty was extended to the accused and he was released from serving his sentence.

Also, on February 27, 2025, charges were brought against Ketevan Lobzhanidze, the doctor on duty at the therapeutic department of Nikoloz Kipshidze University Clinic LLC, under Part 2 of Article 220 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, and by the ruling of the Tbilisi City Court of April 30, 2026, based on the prior consent of Vakhtang Charkviani's successor, Gaioz Charkviani, an amnesty was granted to the accused and criminal prosecution against Ketevan Lobzhanidze was terminated.

It is noteworthy that on September 23, G. Charkviani met with Tamar Bezhuashvili, Chairperson of the Council for Reviewing Complaints of Victims of Encroachment on Life Cases and discussed the criminal case.