Elisashvili remains in custody in connection with the attempted arson of a Tbilisi courthouse.

The court upheld the preventive measure for Aleko Elisashvili, one of the leaders of "Lelo - Strong Georgia," accused of a terrorist attack for attempting to set fire to a court registry office.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," on November 29, 2025, security forces detained Aleko Elisashvili, one of the leaders of the "Lelo - Strong Georgia" coalition, in connection with the attempted arson of the Tbilisi City Court registry office. Elisashvili has been charged under Article 19-323 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (attempted terrorist attack) and faces up to 15 years in prison. He was remanded in custody.

Tbilisi City Court Judge Mzia Garshaulishvili remanded Aleko Elisashvili in custody on January 13, Interpressnews reports.

Since the investigation period in Elisashvili's case was extended, the pretrial restraint was reviewed and upheld. This was requested by the prosecution, who stated that no new circumstances had emerged in the case that could serve as grounds for changing the pretrial restraint.

The defense, however, disagreed with the prosecution's position. According to lawyer Archil Chopikashvili, Elisashvili broke a window worth 110 lari (about $40 – Caucasian Knot), but the prosecutor's office is trying to portray it as an attempted terrorist attack.

Aleko Elisashvili himself was ejected from the courtroom before the verdict was announced, as he urged the judge to "save face," the publication writes.

As a reminder, Elisashvili does not deny the arson, but rejected the charge of terrorism. His defense stated that Elisashvili committed the arson as a protest against the authorities' actions. "He committed this act as a protest; it was one of the means. He expressed his protest against an unfair trial. 'Fire of the oligarchy!'" "And 'Fire to an unfair trial'—those were the words he conveyed to me. The only thing he regrets is that he didn't have enough seconds to bring the matter to an end," the lawyer said after the politician's arrest.

According to the police, Elisashvili smashed the glass of the court office building's facade with a hammer, entered, doused the premises, including office supplies and documentation, with gasoline, and attempted to set the building on fire.