Girchi - More Freedom political party leader, Zurab Japaridze, stated that he fired a warning shot into the air after one of the masked men who had ambushed him in a car near the Girchi TV office ran towards him. Japaridze mentioned that this is the second time he was ambushed as unknown individuals had confronted him the previous night at his residence.
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"I left Girchi TV, and my car was parked in front of the Ministry of Education. In this photo, there is a car. As soon as I passed by, a muscular rat wearing a mask jumped out and ran towards me. The second door of the car opened, and another rat was about to get out. I fired a warning shot into the air. The first rat ran so fast that I couldn't see where he went. The Mercedes was towed to the ground and quickly descended into the underground tunnel. There were many witnesses," says the opposition politician.
As per the party's information, the Mercedes car, with 3-4 people inside, had German license plates.
Two nights ago, unknown individuals attacked Gia Japaridze, Zurab Japaridze’s brother, who is a lecturer at the University of Georgia and a researcher at the Chavchavadze Center. The brothers are actively involved in rallies against the Russian Law. Yesterday, on May 9, Girchi - More Freedom member Boris Chele Kurua was physically assaulted at his home.
During a television commentary, Zurab Japaridze mentioned that he also expects an attack; however, in his case, "it will be a little difficult" because he has the right to carry weapons. Following this statement, parliament member and the Georgian Dream regional secretary publicly addressed Zurab Japaridze and threatened him.
"Whoever forgives you or gives you any compromise, let him be the last man! Yesterday, he bragged that he was carrying a gun. I also carry a gun, and when I come to you, please shoot me so that I have an excuse to fire back! I threw you like a pig... You want to kill my son? I will drink your blood! If the owners of your hat help you or overtake us, I'll be a Nazi!" Samkharadze wrote on Facebook, although at the moment, this post is no longer searchable.
From May 3 to May 9, there were also attacks and physical assaults on Nodar Chachanidze, a member of the Ahali party, activist Lasha Gvinianidze, members of the National Movement, Giorgi Mumladze and Dimitri Chikovani, musician Gio Shengelia, teacher Lado Abkhazava and his son. Also targeted were Giorgi Klidiashvili, director of the non-governmental organization Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information, and the film crew of Formula TV. Additionally, youths participating in the protest against the Russian Law were targeted. The hate campaign is directed at independent journalists and heads of non-governmental organizations. Unknown individuals are pasting insulting, threatening, and inciting posters near their homes and offices, and damaging their cars. At dawn on May 10, unknown masked individuals ambushed journalists and their respondents near the TV Pirvelibuilding. The police did not appear at the scene.
