MEP calls for EU response after detention of Georgian TV host

European Parliament member Rasa Juknevičienė has called on the European Union to respond following the detention of Georgian television presenter Vakho Sanaia, saying the country's leadership was moving towards greater authoritarianism.

"At this pace, [ruling Georgian Dream founder] Bidzina Ivanishvili will soon surpass even his masters in Moscow," Juknevičienė wrote on social media. "The European Union must react on this. Solidarity with Vakho Sanaia."

Sanaia, a presenter with Formula TV, was detained outside his home on Wednesday after Tbilisi City Court sentenced him to 14 days of administrative detention over a social media post concerning Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and ruling Georgian Dream lawmaker Vladimer Bozhadze.

Judge Zviad Tsekvava handed down the sentence after a hearing that Sanaia did not attend.