Police chief spat on detained journalist and tried to physically attack her- GYLA
GYLA Chairwoman Nona Kurdovanidze visited Mzia Amaglobeli, the founder of Georgian media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, and attended her interrogation concerning allegations of ill-treatment.
“Mzia Amaglobeli provided detailed information to the Special Investigation Service regarding the episodes of mistreatment she experienced in the yard and inside the police station. Following her arrest, Irakli Dgebuadze verbally abused her and made several attempts to assault her at the police station physically. However, other officers intervened, restraining Dgebuadze and removing him from the room.
Despite this, Dgebuadze re-entered the room multiple times and continued to treat her aggressively. On one occasion, he spat in her face. Furthermore, under his orders, Mzia Amaglobeli was denied access to water and the use of the restroom for a certain period,” Kurdovanidze stated.
Mzia Amaglobeli was arrested on January 11 on charges of assaulting Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze. On January 14, Batumi City Court Judge Nino Ismashvili granted the prosecutor’s request and sentenced Amaglobeli to pretrial detention as a preventive measure.
The investigation into Mzia Amaglobeli’s case was initiated under Part 1 of Article 353 of the Criminal Code, which addresses assault against a police officer, a Special Penitentiary Service employee, or another government official or public institution. This charge carries a potential sentence of 4 to 7 years in prison.
Her initial administrative detention occurred on January 11 after she posted a sticker on the fence at the entrance to the Adjara Police Department in connection with a general strike planned for January 15.
Georgian Dream: Sanctions Would Mark the End of Britain’s Authority
On January 16, the Georgian Dream Political Council stated in response to the potential sanctioning of the party’s honorary chairman, Bidzina Ivanishvili, by the United Kingdom.
The party declared that if sanctions were imposed on Ivanishvili, Great Britain’s “authority would finally become a thing of the past.” Georgian Dream also suggested that the possible sanctions are influenced by the so-called “Deep State” within the UK. This conspiracy theory has already been widely used against the US government.
“If the UK imposes sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili, it will reveal that the ‘Deep State’ has reduced Great Britain to the level of Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, and the European Parliament—a development which, considering the historical past of the UK, should be regarded as an exceptionally tragic event,” the statement asserted.
On January 13, Liberal Democrat MP James McCleary introduced a motion in the House of Commons calling for sanctions against Ivanishvili, which had garnered 13 signatories as of January 16.
Transparency International Georgia noted that sanctions against Ivanishvili would impact over 95 Georgian companies connected to his family, as many of these are registered in UK offshore jurisdictions.
“If the UK sanctions Bidzina Ivanishvili and his family, the financial sanctions would encompass nearly the entire business empire of the Ivanishvili family, as these companies are ultimately registered in offshore territories of the United Kingdom, such as the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands,” the organisation explained.
Georgian Dream MPs in Abu Dhabi Accused of Physically Assaulting a Georgian Citizen
Georgian Dream MPs Irakli Zarkua and Viktor Sanikidze allegedly assaulted Georgian citizen Lasha Gabitashvili in Abu Dhabi. Footage of the incident also shows the presence of another Georgian Dream MP, Gela Samkharauli, at the scene.
The altercation occurred in the dining area of a hotel. According to the footage, Irakli Zarkua threw food at Lasha Gabitashvili during dinner and then struck him. Viktor Sanikidze reportedly joined the physical altercation shortly afterwards.
In a video message, Lasha Gabitashvili claimed that the incident stemmed from an earlier exchange, during which he referred to Zarkua and Sanikidze as “Russian slaves.”
On January 14, media reports suggested that Zarkua and Sanikidze had been detained.
Coalition for Change member Zurab Girchi Japaridze stated on social media that their court hearing was scheduled for January 15.
The Georgian Embassy in the United Arab Emirates issued a statement confirming that Georgian Dream MPs Irakli Zarkua and Viktor Sanikidze were being questioned in connection with the January 13 assault on a Georgian citizen at an Abu Dhabi hotel.