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GD’s Mdinaradze hints opposition leader Gakharia could face assault charges

Mamuka Mdinaradze, Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, suggested that former Prime Minister and current opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia may face assault charges, claiming that Gakharia initiated the confrontation with GD MP Dimitri Samkharaadze.

The incident took place on the night of January 14th at the Sheraton Hotel in Batumi, western Georgia, where Gakharia was attending an event in support of youth members of his party. This occurred amid ongoing protests against the Georgian government’s decision to delay EU accession talks until 2028.

Gakharia was hospitalized with a fractured nasal bone and a concussion, with his party labeling the incident a “coordinated, group, brutal attack orchestrated by the [ruling party founder and Honorary Chair Bidzina] Ivanishvili regime.”

Mdinaradze emphasized that both Gakharia and Samkharaadze hold the status of state-political officials, and any assault on them, particularly related to their official duties, carries severe penalties under the Georgian Criminal Code — up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment. Threatening such actions is punishable by 6 to 12 years of imprisonment.

“We need to determine who attacked whom. There was an argument, and footage shows that Gakharia threw a glass at Samkharaadze’s face. Was Samkharaadze’s reaction a counterattack? If it was, how can it be considered an assault?” Mdinaradze commented.

He also pointed out that the video footage released by TV station Imedi shows the beginning and end of the incident, while the details in between will be clarified through testimony.

“I’m not referring to a full video. The beginning is clear. Gakharia should consider whether his actions could be viewed as an attempt to assault a state official, which is a very serious offense. The physical violence was initiated by Gakharia. Now, we need to investigate whether there was a political motive behind it. If so, it’s a very serious charge,” Mdinaradze added.

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