Advertising, creative agencies, and video production companies opposing the Russian Law on Agents have been raided by the police. Offices are currently being searched, and Giorgi Okmelashvili, the director of the video production company Limon, has been arrested.
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Advertising agencies, creative agencies, and video production companies that opposed the Russian Law on Agents have been entered by the police. Offices are being searched, and Giorgi Okmelashvili, the director of the video production company Limon, has been arrested.
Employees of the Lemon company stated that the police did not explain the reason for the search; they only presented a warrant.
Limon LLC has received funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to purchase the necessary equipment for developing virtual production.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that on May 13, during a protest near the Parliament in Tbilisi, Giorgi Okmelashvili physically assaulted their employees. Specifically, he hit the police officers with his elbow and fist, injuring one officer's face.
"The investigation is being conducted under the first part of Article 353 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to an attack on a police officer during the performance of their official duties. The crime is punishable by up to 7 years of imprisonment," stated the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Reports indicate that the police entered the agencies Ad Black Sea, Ogilvy, Holy Motors, Butterfly, and Ad Geeks.
On May 2, representatives of the creative industry announced a boycott of all businessmen and companies they founded that supported the Russian Law. These companies include Archi, CELFIE, Wissol, Wendy's, Dunkin', Smart, Subway, Georgian Manganese, Mildian, Agee Development, VR Holding, KTW, White Square, Anagi, and Orbi.
"We will not cooperate with these brands. Our resources will not be used by collaborationist businessmen and their companies," stated a joint statement by the agencies signed by: ADHD, ABK, Betterfly, Ankeny Films, JWT Metro, Leavingstone, Maverik, Playmakers, Redberry, Socialsharks, Q&A, Quick, Watergunz, and Windfor's.
Georgian Dream adopted the Russian Law with 84 votes against 30 on May 14 in the third and final reading. President Salome Zourabichvili announced her intention to veto the Russian Law. She has a two-week deadline to do so, until May 28. The Georgian Dream has the ability to overcome the President's veto.
For a month, numerous demonstrations have been held in Tbilisi against the Russian Law. The special forces and the police have repeatedly dispersed the peaceful protesters. More than a hundred participants in the demonstrations have been arrested. Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs severely beat protesting MPs Aleksandre Elisashvili and Levan Khabeishvili, civil activist Davit Katsarava, and others. Unknown individuals, who have not been arrested so far, attacked several participants in the anti-Russian law protests and inflicted multiple bodily injuries.
