Nikoloz Basilashvili, a Georgian tennis star, has been cleared of domestic violence charges against his ex-wife, Neli Dorokashvili. This decision came after a two-year trial at the Tbilisi City Court, where the allegations didn’t hold up under scrutiny.
The accusations against Basilashvili, who was once ranked 16th in the world and has five ATP Tour titles under his belt, dated back to May 2020. Dorokashvili claimed he had been violent with her on two occasions in 2018 and 2019 and accused him of economic and emotional abuse. However, the court concluded in October 2022 that her testimony didn’t provide enough evidence for a guilty verdict. They stated the decision was made with the “presumption of innocence” in mind, saying the evidence fell short of proving Basilashvili’s guilt “beyond any reasonable doubt.”
Basilashvili, now 32, has consistently denied the allegations. Speaking after the verdict, he expressed relief, saying he was glad the ordeal was over and eager to move on with his life.
Dorokashvili, however, had a very different take on the outcome. She took to Instagram to voice her frustration, accusing Georgia’s legal system of failing women. “If I, with all my evidence, couldn’t win, what hope is there for other women who are victims of violence?” she wrote passionately. She vowed to keep fighting, not just for herself, but for others in similar situations, calling attention to what she sees as a deeper societal issue.
Her lawyer, Ana Abashidze, had previously said that Dorokashvili faced harsh judgment from the Georgian public, who largely sided with Basilashvili. She felt the media coverage of the case had been unfairly slanted, favoring the tennis star because of his reputation and gender.
Basilashvili, who last won an ATP title at the 2021 BMW Open in Munich, Germany, now looks to leave the controversy behind and focus on his career. Meanwhile, the debate sparked by this case continues, shedding light on how cases of domestic violence are handled in Georgia.
