The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) says the attack on activist and comedian Onise Okriashvili is not an isolated incident but the result of a violent environment that the organisation says has been created and maintained by the Georgian Dream government against its critics.
In a statement, GYLA said the ruling party has for years fostered a climate of hostility toward its opponents, which, combined with other forms of repression, poses serious risks, including to their physical safety.
“On July 22, 2026, activist and comedian Onise Okriashvili was attacked and physically assaulted by three individuals near his home. The attack was preceded by a coordinated media campaign lasting several days, both on social media and in state-run media outlets,” the organization said.
GYLA claims that pro-government media play a significant role in coordinated campaigns that incite violence by identifying and discrediting critics, creating a chilling effect on freedom of expression, assembly and other fundamental rights.
The organization also referred to a June 2026 report by Amnesty International, which said that at least six people in Georgia have been subjected to physical violence since 2023 following public discrediting campaigns.
Okriashvili was assaulted on July 22. Following the incident, he said the attack was linked to recent controversy surrounding comments he made about Georgian writer Nodar Dumbadze.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has detained one person in connection with the assault.
The controversy began after remarks made by Okriashvili in a podcast about Nodar Dumbadze were interpreted by some groups as insulting the late writer. In response, the comedian released a video statement, saying his comments had been taken out of context and that he had not insulted Dumbadze, but had instead been portraying a hypothetical absurd character who despised the writer.
Related story: Police arrest man accused of assaulting civic activist and comedian Okriashvili
