Georgian TV host Vakho Sanaia jailed for 14 days over social media post

A court in Tbilisi has sentenced Formula TV presenter Vakho Sanaia to 14 days of administrative detention over a social media post about Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and ruling Georgian Dream lawmaker Vladimer Bozhadze.

The ruling was delivered on Wednesday by Tbilisi City Court Judge Zviad Tsekvava.

The case was investigated by the Interior Ministry's department responsible for combating hate speech.

Sanaia did not attend the court hearing, but made a press comment. 

"I don't care what hearings this so-called court holds," he said, adding that he would continue writing and speaking publicly through broadcasts and social media. He said he was unconcerned whether the authorities imposed fines or detention, saying neither would change his activities.

The 14-day detention followed an earlier 6,000 GEL ($2,200) fine imposed on Sanaia over the same Facebook post concerning Papuashvili and Bozhadze. 

In the post he wrote that people “should not use” an insulting Georgian slur (using the word) to describe the two politicians, but said the court nevertheless concluded that he had insulted them.