"Some people met my brother at the flat entrance and physically assaulted him. He arrived urgently and will probably be taken to the hospital," wrote Zurab Japaridze, the Girchi - More Freedom party leader. Gia Japaridze is an active participant in protests against the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents.

Gia Japaridze is currently a lecturer at the University of Georgia and a member of the board of the Ilia Chavchavadze Center. Before that, he was engaged in diplomatic activities: he was a consular officer and adviser at the Georgian Embassy in the Republic of Greece, an advisor to the Department of European Affairs, Head of the diplomatic mission of Georgia in the Republic of Portugal, Acting Ambassador, and Acting Head of the Diplomatic Mission of Georgia in the Republic of Cyprus.

  • On May 8, Dimitri Chikovani, member of the "National Movement," was also attacked in Tbilisi. He has multiple injuries to his face. The attack was preceded by a statement made by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on April 23 that "people financed by Davit Kezerashvili and Dima Chikovani for 1000 GEL are standing at the rallies against the 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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.

Only one person who attacked Lado Abkhazava and his son was charged. At the request of the prosecutor's office, the court granted bail to the accused in the amount of 4 000 GEL.

The Internal Affairs Ministry did not investigate other aspects of the attack.

Georgian News
Georgian News
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