Facebook users debated the motives behind the persecution of journalist Razmadze.
Georgian journalist Tornike Razmadze faced persecution due to the sharpness of his statements, some participants in the social media discussion suggested. Their opponents considered the version that the reason was the journalist's words about Kremlin propagandists to be justified.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 10, it became known that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia initiated an administrative case against journalist Tornike Razmadze for an obscene statement on social media. The proceedings were initiated under articles 166 "Petty hooliganism" and 173 "Disobedience to police demands" of the Code of Administrative Offenses. The agency stated that it is protecting the honor of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, but the activist himself insists that the reason was a comment directed at Kremlin propagandists Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Solovyov.
According to Razmadze, the reason for the accusations was a Facebook post from August 18. The journalist published a video in which he compared Irakli Kobakhidze's rhetoric around the Treaty of Georgievsk with statements from Russian propagandists. The video included a fragment from Solovyov's author program, where Simonyan predicts that the Georgian leadership "will again beg Mother Russia to take them home on their knees," just as "Irakli II once begged on his knees." Razmadze noted that he is being charged under article 166, which provides punishment for insults directed at another person, but not an official. The Association of Young Lawyers of Georgia called on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop the administrative proceedings, stating that under the pretext of maintaining order, the state has become a target for criticism of anti-Georgian propaganda from the Kremlin.
Facebook users left 841 comments under the publication of "Caucasian Knot" by 12:50 MSK on September 14. Opinions among users were divided in the comments. Some participants in the discussion believe the punishment is justified due to obscene statements, while others perceive the case as a restriction on the journalist's freedom.
In particular, Mariam Sarajishvili believes that public statements by journalists should remain within the bounds of correctness. "Why can't it be done without insults? Why do they think that a journalist has the right to insult or write lies?" - she wrote.
"For any obscene statements on television and in other media, there should be at least a fine and removal from office. Journalists are also responsible for the overall culture of society, which today looks simply deplorable," - expressed a similar opinion Liliana Enukidze.
Insults in public space are unacceptable
Georgy Dumava also believes that obscene language in public space is unacceptable: "Insults in public space are unacceptable towards anyone, be it power structures or ordinary citizens, and one should be held accountable for this!" - he wrote.
Some participants in the discussion believe that the journalist's case is not related to the mention of Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Solovyov, but to statements directed at the Georgian Prime Minister.
"This guy was fined for insulting the Prime Minister of Georgia," - stated, in particular, Lali Iashvili. "He cursed Kobakhidze, and that's why he was fined," - agreed Xato Kldiashvili.
The version that the journalist is being persecuted for insults directed at Simonyan and Solovyov is Razmadze's position, not an established fact
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs officially states that the proceedings concern the insult of Irakli Kobakhidze. The version that the journalist is being persecuted for insults directed at Simonyan and Solovyov is Razmadze's position, not an established fact," - wrote Gia Barnovi. "It's not because of Simonyan that he is being condemned," - agreed Maka Kvavadze.
Some participants in the discussion believe that the journalist should be supported, but public speech should also remain within acceptable limits. "Of course, we need to defend our journalist by all means, but I think one shouldn't use so many dirty words as if it's a competition to see who can write more obscene words!" - wrote Ofa Arjevanidze.
"Ten will be fined, while hundreds continue to express themselves. Can't something like a filter be established on social media that won't allow users' insults and will block them?" - wrote Aza Gelashvili.
By the beginning of August, in two months of work of the new unit combating "hate speech," about 300 administrative cases related to critical comments about the current authorities of Georgia were sent to court. The grounds for initiating cases were sharp statuses on social media, public comments, and obscene inscriptions on posters used by protesters.
Some commentators perceive the situation as a matter of freedom of speech. Such users do not discuss the legal side of the case in detail, but express support for the journalist and consider what happened a troubling signal. "Here is your freedom of speech, Independent Georgia," - wrote, in particular, Veronika Gamayunova.
Some users, on the contrary, consider the attention of state authorities to such statements excessive. They questioned why this particular case became the subject of investigation.
For instance, Zauri Obolashvili expressed confusion regarding the persecution of the journalist. "For what Simonyan insulted - a sentence, what nonsense," - he wrote. Tamara Mosashvili perceives the situation as an attempt to limit public statements: "They want to shut people's mouths," - she suggested.
Users who believe that the attention to Razmadze's case is related to a broader political conflict also participated in the discussion. They discuss not only the journalist himself but also the role of Simonyan and Solovyov in this story.
In particular, Malkhaz Metreveli believes that the reaction to sharp statements directed at Russian media figures should not automatically lead to punishment. "For swearing against Russian propagandists starting with the letter 'S' (Simonyan, Solovyov, Skobeeva, and the like), one should not be fined, but awarded!" - expressed the opinion of a user. "And what are Solovyov and Simonyan good for the 'Georgian Dream'?" - asked Semina Svetlana.
Article 166: does the law confirm Razmadze's version?
To verify Tornike Razmadze's statement that he was charged specifically for insulting another person, rather than a public official, an analysis of the text of article 166 of the Georgian Code of Administrative Offenses was conducted using two AIs (ChatGPT and Copilot). It was also checked with AI whether Razmadze's claim that if his actions "were considered as an insult to a public official, there would be another article, and a different article would be indicated in the ruling on my case" is true. "Caucasian Knot" checked whether such a separate norm exists in Georgian legislation.
Such an article does indeed exist. In February 2025, article 173¹⁶ - that is, article 173 with the index "16" - was added to the Georgian Code of Administrative Offenses. It establishes responsibility for verbal insults, swearing, and other offensive actions against a state or political official, state or public servant, if it is related to the performance of their official duties or activities. For such a violation, a fine or administrative detention of up to 45 days is provided.
This is not the article 173 that the Ministry of Internal Affairs mentions in Razmadze's case. The ordinary article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offenses concerns disobedience to a lawful demand of a law enforcement officer. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that the proceedings against Razmadze are being conducted specifically under articles 166 and 173. Thus, article 173 in the Ministry's message is the norm on disobedience to the police, while article 173¹⁶ is a separate norm on insulting officials. The numbers are similar, but these are different articles and different offenses.
Article 166, in turn, provides for responsibility for petty hooliganism. In particular, it covers obscene language in public places, offensive harassment of citizens, and other similar actions that violate public order and tranquility. Therefore, the mere reference to article 166 does not mean that it necessarily concerns the insult of a private individual: this article describes a broader range of violations of public order.
Thus, in Razmadze's main legal argument, there is a basis: there is indeed a separate article 173¹⁶ in Georgian legislation specifically dedicated to insulting state and political officials. But this does not yet prove that his case concerns insults directed at Simonyan and Solovyov. Razmadze claims this himself, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs states that his comment contained an insult to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and reports on proceedings under articles 166 and 173. It is only possible to definitively establish which specific comment and what action he is being charged with based on the materials of the case.