A wave of violent attacks on Georgian Dream critics has sparked fears that the government is behind them.
The most recent wave was preceded by statements by Georgian Dream leaders and pundits inciting violence.
Just like in the case of earlier waves of violence, Georgian Dream propaganda tries to portray these incidents as genuine outbursts of “angry citizens” enraged by criticism of the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church or “LGBT propaganda.”
Just last night, Formula TV anchor, commentator, and founder Misha Mshvildadze was violently assaulted by an unknown man in a supermarket.
On the same evening, a UNM member was assaulted and beaten by masked men outside his home.
On June 17, Zurab Girchi Japaridze, leader of the Girchi-More Freedom party, was assaulted outside a supermarket in Gori.
On the same day, a Georgian Dream-linked mob surrounded, threw stones, and attempted to violently disrupt a liberal education youth camp in Borjomi.
On June 20, liberal intellectual, literature professor, and Georgian Dream critic, former MP Levan Berdzenishvili, was assaulted outside the Tbilisi State University.
Georgian Dream has targeted Mr Berdzenishvili, calling him a “traitor” for criticizing King Erekle II for concluding a 1783 treaty with Russia that eventually led to Georgia's absorption into the Russian Empire.
It also became known that Batu Kutelia, a former Georgian Ambassador to the US and a foreign policy expert, was reportedly attacked.
On June 17, a group of Tbilisi State University students were beaten by Georgian Dream supporters as they attempted to hold an improvised protest against Georgian Dream Chair Irakli Kobakhidze.
The wave of political violence was preceded by Georgian Dream leaders’ statements justifying violence.
For example, on June 26, Georgian Dream MP Beka Odisharia said in Parliament that “anyone who would call us pro-Russian will receive it in their face.”
Georgian Dream parliamentary faction Chair Mamuka Mdinaradze earlier stated GD members will have to resort to insults in response to unfair accusations of being pro-Russian.
Tbilisi Mayor and GD Secretary General Kakha Kaladze endorsed the colleagues, calling their statements “self-defense.”
“Statements towards my colleagues and MPs by your TV stations is violence too. Violence is not only physical, I say this. What you do is verbal violence towards politicians’ families when you invade them – this is simple violence,” Kaladze said
GD MP and Parliament’s Gender Equality Council Chair Nino Tsilosani backed the colleagues and said she was sure both Odisharia and Mdinaradze would back up their promises with actions.
Party Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze justified the attack on Levan Berdzenishvili, stating, “It is inadmissible for an individual with professor status to offend our hero kings.”
Government critics believe the attacks are planned, coordinated, and executed by the Government itself.
Fears that the Georgian Dream may be organizing violent campaigns against opponents are not new.
A TV Pirveli investigation alleged the State Security Service organized the July 5, 2021, violent pogrom using LGBT pride as a pretext.
53 journalists were beaten, and one—TV Pirveli cameraman Lekso Lashkarava—died days later.
In dozens of incidents, especially in the run up to and during elections, civil servants were seen participating in violence against Government critics.
One of the most known incidents was during a by-election in 2016 when a Georgian-Dream linked group of wrestlers, karate fighters, and streetfighters beat up the leadership of UNM, Georgia’s main opposition party.
None of the offenders were meaningfully prosecuted or arrested.
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