Journalist Vakho Sanaya has been arrested in Tbilisi for publications on social media.
The Tbilisi City Court today sentenced journalist Vakho Sanaya of "Formula" to 30 days of administrative arrest for publications on social media concerning the Chairman of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili and Deputy Vladimir Bozhadze.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", at the end of July, journalist Vakho Sanaya was arrested on the 602nd day of daily protests for 14 days for statements made against the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili and Deputy Vladimir Bozhadze.
Journalist Vakho Sanaya was detained by police today near his home. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused him of insulting political figures in connection with three posts he made on social media, reports the publication Formula.
According to the security forces, these are insulting posts by Sanaya on his Facebook page directed at the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili and Deputy Vladimir Bozhadze. Judge Tornike Kochkiani of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced the journalist to 30 days of administrative arrest.
During the detention, Sanaya managed to answer journalists' questions, reports the television company Pirveli.
"No prison sentence will change the situation. The main goal of my arrest is to silence society; society will never be silent. We will overthrow this regime, no matter how long it takes, it will definitely end with our victory. Our motto is 'to the end'," the journalist reacted to his arrest.
According to the television presenter, it is an illusion if anyone thinks that a 30-day prison sentence will help silence people. The journalist expressed complete conviction that no methods can stop freedom of expression. "We know what we will write, what we will read, how we will tell the audience; we choose these words ourselves, not Bidzina Ivanishvili, who creates a separate dictionary," Sanaya stated.
"Georgia is literally repeating the Moscow scenario," said the fifth President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili in response to the court's decision on the administrative arrest of the journalist.
As Salome Zourabichvili wrote, "Georgian Dream" turns Facebook posts into crimes and imprisons journalists. The sentence of Vakho Sanaya to 30 days in prison is a desperate step of self-satisfaction by the authoritarian regime in hopes of salvation.
Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Security forces have conducted harsh dispersals of protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. During the protests, thousands of people have faced administrative prosecution. "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report on "The Main Points on the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia".