TBILISI, Georgia — Violence erupted at the office of the Coalition for Change, an opposition political group, when it was raided by a group of masked assailants believed to be government-paid individuals, resulting in the beating of at least two political figures and attacks on journalists who were covering the incident.
The office invasion occurred just before 11 a.m. on December 7, at a time when a nearby protest was intensifying on Rustaveli Avenue. The protest was against the ruling party Georgian Dream’s recent backtrack on the European Union accession process and was also highlighting the increasing governmental repressions.
Witnesses and surveillance footage suggest the assailants, dressed entirely in black and wearing masks, coordinated their attack with local police who appeared to clear the way for them. The situation escalated rapidly as the assailants barged into the opposition’s headquarters on Besiki Street and assaulted Koba Khabazi and Data Petridis, two members of the Coalition.
The violence extended to members of the press. Maka Chikhladze, a journalist from TV Pirveli, was attacked and thrown to the ground while trying to protect her cameraman, Giorgi Shetsiruli, who was also beaten and filmed lying on the street while being kicked by the assailants.
The Special Investigation Service of Georgia has announced an inquiry into the episode. However, critics have noted the absence of immediate police or Special Investigation Service personnel at the scene following the incident.
In the aftermath, officials from the ruling Georgian Dream party distanced themselves from the violence. Mamuka Mdinaradze, the party’s executive secretary, suggested the opposition might have staged the attack to create chaos and garner sympathy.
This attack drew a sharp condemnation from Georgia’s President, who decried the assault as part of a “brutal regime” that perpetuates terror, visible even during live broadcasts.
In a broader context, this incident underscores a troubling trend towards the use of force against journalists in Georgia. The attack on Chikhladze is particularly significant, considering she recently reported on Ioseb (Soso) Margvelashvili, a figure known for leading a harsh enforcement squad within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Her report exposed tactics used against demonstrators, including beatings and aggressive dispersals, tactics that have been emblematic of the government’s handling of protests and dissent.
The implications of this incident are manifold, highlighting issues ranging from media freedom to public trust in law enforcement and the government’s commitment to democratic processes. The international community and local watchdogs will likely watch closely how the Georgian authorities handle the investigation and any potential accountability measures.
This development poses substantial questions about the direction of Georgian democracy and the state’s regard for human rights, playing out against the backdrop of the country’s complex relationship with European ambitions and internal political stability.