Georgian Special Investigation Service Arrests Man for Allegedly Assaulting Member of United National Movement
On December 20, the Special Investigation Service of Georgia (SIS) detained a citizen for allegedly hitting a United National Movement (UNM) lawmaker in Batumi.
On December 19, while being interviewed live by the opposition-leaning TV formula, Giorgi Kirtadze, the head of the UNM office in Adjara, a member of the Supreme Council of Adjara, and the party's previous candidate for mayor of Batumi, was attacked. In the video recorded by the media, a belligerent person is seen physically beating the opposition politician and hurling eggs at him. "You are a traitor to this country," the assailant yelled at the legislator, "You are Giorgi Kirtadze, right?" he continued.
Also, the opposition parties Droa, Lelo, European Georgia, and Strategy Aghmashenebeli concurred with UNM in denouncing the attack.
Notably, on December 19, the Adjara Autonomous Republic Division of the Investigative Department of the Special Investigation Service opened an investigation into the alleged violent persecution of Kirtadze, who was allegedly made a target of violence due to his political activities, in accordance with Article 156 (2a) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
United National Movement member: "The attack on Giorgi Kirtadze is Kobakhidze's style and was made on his orders"
On December 20, Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of Strategy Aghmashenebeli, said that the attack on Giorgi Kirtadze was Kobakhidze's style and was made on his orders. "I tell him directly - Irakli, nobody is afraid of you. The Government will have to pay for all this," he added.
"This is a direct, cheap provocation organized by Georgian Dream," Vashadze said.