Mariam Tsitsikashvili was administratively detained at Tbilisi International Airport by police after telling Viktor Japaridze, a member of the parliamentary majority, that he should be ashamed of himself for voting for the Russian Law and rejecting Georgia's European future.
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Mariam Tsitsikashvili published a video on social media, which, as she says, shows only part of the incident. "Get the hell out," the deputy says to the citizen, calling her impudent and unscrupulous. When Tsitsikashvili replied that she is the son of an immigrant and her mother is Ossia, Viktor Japaridze responded, "Like it seems."
As Mariam says, the incident was over when police officers confiscated the passports of her and her friend, Irina Gurgenashvili.
"For an hour, representatives of various agencies dressed in black were only interested in our workplace. Finally, I was told that I was arrested as a 'petty hooligan' under Article 166 for 'disturbing public order,' and Irina was told she would not be allowed to board and was removed from the departure lounge. My trial was held soon after but was adjourned until June 19 to allow additional evidence to be presented. The police are probably looking for those people whose peace was 'violated,'" noted Tsitsikashvili, who is an employee of the Georgian Reforms Association (GRASS).
According to the organization, Mariam Tsitsikashvili was arrested illegally as a form of retaliation. They also highlighted that, despite the incident, the police did not stop Viktor Japaridze, and he "flew freely."
This is not the first time deputies supporting the Russian Law have been publicly criticized. Other members of the majority, including Eliso Bolkvadze, Viktor Sanikidze, and Irakli Zarkua, have faced dissatisfaction from citizens.
"The Russian Law was adopted with fluctuating security levels, sometimes red, sometimes yellow, amid unprecedented mobilization of law enforcement officers. Because they closed the parliament, they should know that people will respond, and we will speak the truth about their decision wherever we see them," said Mariam Tsitsikashvili.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not reacted to the incidents of violence against opponents of the law on Foreign Agents. No one has been arrested for the attack on student movement leader Niko Managadze on June 7, despite the release of a video showing the alleged perpetrators.
