Georgian activist beaten in Tbilisi after TV smear campaign

Onise Okriashvili

A Georgian pro-EU activist and comedian has been beaten outside his home in Tbilisi following what supporters say was a targeted smear campaign by pro-government media.

Onise Okriashvili was attacked by three men in the capital's Vake district late on Tuesday.

Video footage of the assault shared on social media shows the men hitting Mr Okriashvili while accusing him of disrespecting Nodar Dumbadze, a celebrated 20th-century Georgian author.

"You insulted Nodar Dumbadze, how dare you?" one of the attackers can be heard shouting in the recording.

Passers-by and neighbours can be heard calling for help, but none approached the attackers during the incident.

The attack follows days of heavy coverage by pro-government television channels, which repeatedly aired a short snippet from a comedy show titled Punchline Therapy.

In the broadcast clip, Mr Okriashvili used vulgar language when mentioning the late writer. Activists say the excerpt was edited out of context to portray him as deliberately insulting a respected national figure.

Before the attack, Mr Okriashvili posted a video online rejecting the claims and accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of trying to divert public attention from political issues, including youth emigration and drug abuse.

"During a performance, we speak hypothetically and can say the most absurd thing that comes to mind at that moment," he said. "This video clearly shows that I am, of course, not insulting

$$Dumbadze$$

, but speaking only hypothetically."

He added that comedy relies on unexpected twists and that the excerpt had been weaponised by the "propaganda machine".

His wife, Mariam Samushia, said the couple had been preparing legal action against media outlets prior to the assault.

"Just today we were discussing filing a lawsuit against the propaganda media for spreading defamatory claims, and today Onise was attacked," Ms Samushia told reporters.

"This is artificially created hatred," she added.

Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that a criminal investigation has been opened under Article 126 of the criminal code, which covers acts of violence.

Officials said one suspect has been detained and taken to a police station for questioning.

Mr Okriashvili is a prominent voice in the pro-European protest movement that has staged regular demonstrations across Georgia over the past two years. He is known for staging solo protests on public transport and in busy city locations, holding placards critical of the government.