The oligarch and his puppets forget that Georgia is not Russia, Georgians know the price of freedom. Our struggle for the European future of the country cannot be weakened by the methods of the Russian security service, – representatives of non-governmental organizations thus respond to the current events in the country and the attacks on several individuals.
As the representatives of the third sector stated at a jointly held briefing, they are ready to provide legal assistance to all affected persons.
“On the night of May 8, the government’s nerves have finally failed and it prematurely started to show what kind of country they intend to make from Georgia. The change of foreign vector and repressions announced by Bidzina Ivanishvili on April 29 have already been visibly implemented. Calls of threats and insults made to hundreds of citizens turned into physical attacks against politicians and activists. The oligarch and his puppets forget that Georgia is not Russia, Georgians know the price of freedom. Our struggle for the country’s European future cannot be weakened by the methods of the Russian security service. Georgians will never approve of attacking a person from behind, chasing them in the hallways, trying to break down the door of young children. This is how the Russian regime behaves. We will provide legal assistance to all victims. We will certainly follow every case of targeted attack on active citizens. We will demand and ensure that the culprits are identified. Freedom is the main value of the Georgian people. Therefore, we stand and will stand on the guard of the European future of Georgia, to protect this country from Russian methods and violence. The Georgian people will end this battle with victory, and the perpetrators will surely receive an appropriate response,” reads the joint statement.
Overnight, several civil activists who participate in anti “Russian Law” protests were attacked and injured. Among them, a brother of Zurab Japaridze, the leader of Girchi-More Freedom, Gia Japaridze and Dimitri Chikovani, a member of the National Movement.
“Several people physically assaulted my brother near his house.
Ambulance has arrived and he will probably be taken to the hospital,” Japaridze wrote on Facebook.
Gia Japaridze’s photo showing the injury to his head was spread via social networks.
Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri said an investigation into yesterday’s attacks was started immediately. As the minister noted, “he condemns any kind of violence.”
By Ana Dumbadze
