Member of the European Parliament Michael Gahler has criticized the 14-day administrative detention imposed on Georgian journalist Vakho Sanaia over a social media post, saying that “Soviet Georgia” is becoming a reality.
Commenting on the court’s decision, Gahler said the sentence reflects Georgia’s growing authoritarian trajectory.
“Vakho Sanaia, a journalist with Formula TV, was sentenced to 14 days in prison for a post published on Facebook. The fact that he would have received a much harsher punishment in Russia is no consolation at all. It shows which side of Europe today’s Georgia stands on: the authoritarian side. Soviet Georgia is becoming a reality,” the MEP wrote.
The reaction follows a ruling by the Tbilisi City Court, which sentenced Sanaia to 14 days of administrative detention over a social media post concerning Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and MP Vladimir Bozhadze.
Related story: TV presenter Vakho Sanaia sentenced to 14 days in detention
