Georgian TV host Sanaia detained near home as court orders 14-day jail

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

Judge Zviad Tsekvava handed down the sentence at Tbilisi City Court. Sanaia did not attend the hearing.

Speaking before his detention, Sanaia said he would not be deterred from expressing his views.

"There are no circumstances under which I will restrict my freedom of speech," he said, arguing that the case was aimed at silencing public criticism.

Sanaia added fines and detention would not prevent him from speaking publicly and described the court proceedings as "absurd", saying they would not change the way he carried out his work.

The case stems from a Facebook post concerning Papuashvili and Bozhadze in which Sanaia used an insulting word, and was investigated by the Interior Ministry's department responsible for combating hate speech.

The detention followed an earlier 6,000 GEL ($2,200) fine imposed on Sanaia over the social media post involving the same officials.