Driver who hit protesters in Tbilisi identified, say injured activists

Two young activists who were injured after a car ploughed into a group of protesters in Tbilisi on the night of 22 June say they have identified the driver, despite a lack of public information from authorities.

Mariam Mekantsishvili and Lizi Ubilava, who were both hospitalised following the incident, have now been discharged but remain on bed rest due to various injuries. Mekantsishvili suffered a fractured rib and pelvic ligament damage, while Ubilava continues to experience knee pain and bruising.

Mekantsishvili told the press the driver was identified by the vehicle’s licence plate as Luka Maisuradze, born in 2002. She claimed he was in the car with a female passenger when he accelerated into the crowd, ignored police instructions, and struck multiple demonstrators.

“We identified him ourselves through the number plate,” Mekantsishvili said. “He was sitting with his girlfriend and drove into the demonstrators, did not obey police orders, and ran them over too.”

Footage of the incident shows the vehicle speeding into the crowd, pausing briefly near a police officer, and then continuing through the protest area. Despite this, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has not confirmed the identity of the driver, nor whether he has been detained or questioned.

The ministry told the press the incident is being investigated under Article 126 of the Criminal Code, which relates to violence, but declined to answer further questions. Ubilava confirmed that police had contacted her but had not yet taken a formal statement.