Former Georgian Prime Minister and opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia was hospitalised after being attacked at a hotel in Batumi, reportedly by members of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Gakharia sustained a broken nose in the assault, which his party labelled “politically motivated” and designed to intimidate the opposition.
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Georgia has faced ongoing political unrest and violence against opposition figures and protesters following contentious elections in late October.
Protests have persisted daily since November, particularly after Georgian Dream’s leadership announced a freeze on European Union accession talks.
Footage from the attack shows Gakharia being thrown to the floor in the Sheraton hotel lobby. Later images revealed blood on his shirt. Gakharia assured his followers on social media that he was “doing fine,” although doctors confirmed he had a fractured nose and a concussion.
The European Commission expressed shock over the involvement of Georgian Dream politicians in the attack, emphasizing that violence has no place in a democracy.
However, Georgian Dream members, including MP Levan Machavariani and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, defended their party, accusing Gakharia of instigating the altercation.
The incident follows another attack earlier in the day on journalist Zviad Koridze, who was covering the trial of media figure Mzia Amaghlobeli, recently detained in Batumi.
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