NGOs: Repressions Announced by Ivanishvili on April 29 Have Begun

"The shift in foreign policy direction and the repressions announced by Bidzina Ivanishvili on April 29 have already been visibly implemented. What began as threats and insults to hundreds of citizens has escalated into physical attacks and organized reprisals against politicians and activists.

The oligarchs and their puppets forget that Georgia is not Russia. Georgians know the price of freedom. Our struggle for the country's European future cannot be undermined by the methods of the Russian security service.

A Georgian will never approve of sneaking up on a person, chasing them in the hallways, or trying to break down a door for a small child; that's how the Russian regime behaves," read the joint statement of non-governmental organizations, as delivered by Baia Pataraia, the director of Sapari.

Civil sector representatives intend to provide legal assistance to all victims. According to them, each case of a targeted attack on active citizens will be followed up to the end, and the culprits will be identified.

"Freedom is the main value of the Georgian people. That is why we stand, and will stand, guard over Georgia's European future, protecting this country from Russian methods and violence. The Georgian people will end this fight with victory, and the perpetrators will receive an appropriate response," said representatives of non-governmental organizations.

During the night hours of May 8, several attacks on opponents of the Russian law took place in Tbilisi.

• Unknown individuals beat Dimitri Chikovani, a member of the National Movement, resulting in multiple injuries to his face. The attack followed a statement made by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on April 23, alleging that "people financed by Davit Kezerashvili and Dima Chikovani for 1000 GEL are standing” against Russian law. Dimitri Chikovani is the brother of the wife of the TV company Formula’s founder and the former Georgian Defense Minister, Davit Kezerashvili.
• Unknown individuals physically assaulted Gia Japaridze, a researcher at the Chavchavadze Center, at the entrance of his own residence. He is the brother of Zurab Japaridze, the leader of Girchi - more freedom, and is actively involved in actions against the Russian law. "They started beating me directly. They were holding some sticks. Why am I against Russian Law - that's what they said," Gia Japaridze said after the incident. He has injuries to his head and face. According to the Khechinashvili clinic, he has a skull-brain injury.
• Three unknown individuals attacked Lasha Ghvinianidze, one of the organizers and participants of the actions, in his own neighborhood. He believes his location was traced from a phone call he made before the attack. The activist had received a threat beforehand. "They called my 72-year-old father, who was directly told to stop his son. It is a fact that personal information has been leaked from state agencies in such detail that they know the addresses and phone numbers, including those of family members," says the activist, who is still in the clinic.

On May 7, in Tbilisi, the director of the non-governmental organization Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information, Giorgi Klidiashvili, and the film crew of Formula were attacked. On May 5, in Lanchkhuti, an active participant in protests against the Russian Law, teacher Lado Abkhazava, and his son were beaten. The prosecutor's office charged one person with physical violence, although Abkhazava said that two people participated in the attack. On May 3, in Tbilisi, young people participating in the protest were physically assaulted, and no arrests were made by the Internal Affairs Ministry. Additionally, in recent days, unknown individuals have been contacting private phone numbers, cursing and threatening citizens, including journalists, civil activists, and students who are actively opposing the Russian aw.