Georgian lawyer Beka Basilaia was sentenced in absentia to 14 years in a maximum-security colony by a de facto court in Donetsk. He was accused of fighting for the Georgian National Legion in Ukraine.

A de facto court in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk sentenced Georgian citizen and prominent lawyer Beka Basilaia to 14 years in a maximum-security penal colony in absentia, alleging that he participated in hostilities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian state media TASS reported on March 6. According to TASS, “the court established that Basilaia arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 and joined the Georgian National Legion,” and that he “underwent combat training and fought against the Russian Armed Forces until the fall of 2025,” allegedly receiving “more than 3.5 million rubles,” for what prosecutors described as “mercenary activities.” “Basilaia was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 3 of Article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. He is currently wanted internationally,” TASS said. Basilaia, 37, is a lawyer who has represented prominent opposition politicians, including the former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is currently serving a 12.5-year sentence in Georgia after being convicted in four separate cases, and Murtaz Zodelava, who is among the five alleged organizers of the October 4 rally in Georgia’s capital. Also Read: 11/02/2026 – Donetsk Court Sentences Georgian Fighter in Ukraine to Life in Prison 26/12/2025 – Russia-Backed Court Sentences Georgian Medic to 15 Years in Absentia This post is also available in: ქართული Beka Basilaia Donetsk Russia-Ukraine war Copy URL