Royal Opera House Urges Intervention in Case of Georgian Singer Jailed for Seven Years

The Royal Opera House in London has urged British officials to intervene in the case of Paata Burchuladze, a 71-year-old Georgian bass singer imprisoned in Georgia since October. Burchuladze was sentenced last week to seven years in jail on a charge of leading a coup against the government.

He had participated in anti-government protests in the capital, Tbilisi. Burchuladze has performed at the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. He has collaborated with Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras. The singer became a prominent figure at demonstrations last autumn against the government's policies.

He frequently sang to crowds from the back of a flatbed truck. On 4 October last year, he read a declaration stating that power returns to the people and calling the government illegitimate. He was arrested along with nine others accused of organising violence against the ruling regime.

The regime is in effect led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Ivanishvili was sanctioned by the United States in 2024. Burchuladze suggested in court that a seven-year term at his age amounted to a life sentence.

In a letter, the Royal Opera House's director of casting, Peter Katona, stated that the charges against Burchuladze are fabricated. "The charges brought against Mr Burchuladze are entirely fabricated and unlawful. He is being persecuted solely because of his critical stance toward the ruling regime," Katona wrote.

Katona noted that Burchuladze debuted at the Royal Opera House in 1984 and has performed there many times. The company is considering inviting him again in the future for more senior roles. The letter described Burchuladze as one of more than 100 political prisoners in Georgia.

"Unfortunately, Paata Burchuladze is now among more than 100 political prisoners in Georgia. During recent peaceful demonstrations, more than 500 people were arrested, and more than 300 reported torture and ill treatment," the letter stated. The Foreign Office has said it is monitoring developments and will raise the importance of safeguarding detainees' rights where appropriate.

It is understood that the Royal Ballet and Opera has not received a response from officials.

Burchuladze has been a pro-democracy campaigner in Georgia for more than a decade. He formed a short-lived political party in 2016 and has served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations and Unicef. In a statement before sentencing, he said recognisable figures must set an example in defending the country.

The appeal has been echoed by the general artistic director at Belgium’s La Monnaie opera house. Burchuladze is among 114 people in Georgia who have been sentenced or held in detention in connection with the protests.