Opposition party National Movement member, Dimitri Chikovani, was physically assaulted, resulting in multiple injuries to his face. The attack followed a statement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on April 23 accusing Chikovani and Davit Kezerashvili of financing individuals with 1000 GEL to participate in protests against the Russian Law.
News
Trending stories
- 1 Protests Erupt in Abkhazia Over Russia-Favored Law, Opposition Members Arrested
- 2 Edison: 13% Discrepancy Between Exit Polls and CEC Results Suggests Manipulation
- 3 Kobakhidze: German Chancellor Should Be More Concerned About His Own Problems
- 4 US-Sanctioned Russian Propagandist Present in Georgia During Elections
- 5 Nauseda: Extensive Russian Interference Casts Doubt on Election Legitimacy
- 6 Judge of Tetritskaro Annuls Results of 30 Precincts Over Vote Secrecy Violations
"There were two people with hats lurking at the entrance door, and everything happened very suddenly. The cowardly "Titushkas" of Georgian Dream ran away in exactly 3 minutes. This is the Russian regime, this is the Russian Law, it is already in effect, and nothing can stop the Georgian people. I want to tell my friends, the people who have been protesting the Russian Law in the streets for three weeks now, this regime is over. They will not be able to scare us, they will not be able to bring us to our knees, this is nothing, this is their end," said Chikovani on the air of Formula.
Dimitri Chikovani is the brother of the wife of the TV company Formula’s founder and the former Georgian Defense Minister, Davit Kezerashvili.
- On May 3 in Tbilisi, youths participating in the protest were attacked and physically assaulted. Some of the attackers have been identified by the media as individuals affiliated with Georgian Dream, including several coaches who are financed from the budget.
- On May 5 in Lanchkhuti, an active participant in protests against the Russian Law, teacher Lado Abkhazava, and his son were attacked while leaving the hall.
- On May 7, after leaving the Swedish embassy in Tbilisi, Giorgi Klidiashvili, the director of the non-governmental organization Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information, as well as the camera crew of the Formula television company, were attacked. Klidiashvili was giving an interview to Formula.
Only one person who attacked Lado Abkhazava and his son, Lanchkhuti ambulance driver Koba Pipiashvili, was charged. The prosecutor's office requested bail for him. The court of Ozurgeti granted bail to the accused in the amount of 4,000 GEL. Other facts of the attack were not investigated by the Internal Affairs Ministry, despite the media identifying the attackers.
On May 8, the Parliament Chairman, Shalva Papuashvili, publicly announced that they will create a database through party structures to gather information about all those people "who are involved in violence, other illegal actions, threats, and blackmail or publicly endorse such actions."
