Administrative proceedings launched against blogger Tornike Razmadze

Administrative proceedings and accusations

The Ministry of Internal Affairs' Department for Combating Hate Speech has launched administrative proceedings against Tornike Razmadze. The case concerns a comment written by Razmadze on a social network, which he published in response to statements made by Russian propagandists Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Solovyov regarding King Erekle II. According to Razmadze, the ministry is accusing him specifically of insulting the Russian propagandists. Civil.ge+4

According to the ministry, Razmadze is charged under the first part of Article 166 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia, which implies petty hooliganism. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs also stated that the case concerns the insult of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and noted that the proceedings are being conducted under Articles 166 and 173. Razmadze's lawyer believes that the ministry intentionally added Article 173, which concerns the insult of a public official, to the case. Civil.ge+2

Context and reactions

In a video address, Razmadze noted that his comment was a reaction to Simonyan's statement, where she said that Georgians are asking Russia for protection while "on their knees," just as Erekle II did. The blogger noted that this narrative coincides with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's statements regarding the Treaty of Georgievsk. Civil.ge+3

The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association called the case a restriction of freedom of expression. At the same time, Russian propaganda media writes that an investigation has been launched against a Georgian citizen who cursed at Margarita Simonyan. JAMnews+1