Activist Fined for Insulting Mariam Lashkhi Has Property and Accounts Seized

Activist Magda Mamukashvili, who was fined GEL 4,000 for insulting Mariam Lashkhi, a member of the Georgian Dream, has had her property and bank accounts seized due to non-payment of the fine.

As she writes on Facebook, her house, car, accounts, and a 25% share in a company that has not been active for 12 years were seized for saying "Down with the rotten Russian empire" and "Freedom to the regime's prisoners."

Magda Mamukashvili is a mother of two young children. The National Agency of Public Registry, based on a request from the National Bureau of Enforcement, seized her apartment, while TBC Bank seized her bank accounts.

"TBC seized my accounts for saying 'Down with the rotten Russian empire.' We know the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Bureau of Enforcement are servants of the regime, but why are you enforcing the decisions of an unrecognized regime?! Why are you participating in the work of a repressive mechanism?

Yes, this regime also has UK sanctions, how come that doesn't bother you?! I have a mortgage loan at a huge interest rate until 2037. They seized my account, but will still demand loan payment on the 25th. If I don't pay, the Enforcement Bureau and TBC Bank will sell my house together, in perfect harmony. What do they care about my young children?

This is nothing but shamelessness, TBC Bank. Go ahead and run your multi-thousand-Lari pro-European ads and make people cry after this. You're just servants of this regime!” the activist wrote.

Magda Mamukashvili was fined GEL 4,000 by Tbilisi City Court judge Manuchar Tsatsua on May 30. Mariam Lashkhi, a member of Georgian Dream, filed a complaint with the Ministry of Internal Affairs against Mamukashvili and two other activists, Sopo Apriamashvili and Lika Lortkipanidze, regarding an incident on May 17. On that day, the activists approached Lashkhi, who was with her children in a cafe, shouting "Freedom to the regime's prisoners!", "No to the Russian regime!", and "No to Russia's slaves!"

According to amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code introduced by Georgian Dream in February, insulting a public official is punishable by a fine of GEL 1,500 to GEL 4,000 or administrative imprisonment for up to 45 days. The court sentenced Sopo Apriamashvili and Lika Lortkipanidze to 12 days of administrative imprisonment each.

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