Public Defender on activists’ detention for insulting MP Mariam Lashkhi: Detention is indeed an extreme form, although there can be no justification for such a behavior in the presence of children

Detention is indeed an extreme form. There are many other options that can be used against a person. At the same time, there can be no justification for such behavior in the presence of children and minors, - Public Defender Levan Ioseliani told journalists, responding to the 12-day administrative detention of two activists for verbally insulting Georgian Dream MP Mariam Lashkhi.

He called on the public to "draw a clear line between political activity or work and the space where public figures are with family members."

“Detention is truly an extreme form. There are many other options that can be used against a person. Therefore, in this regard, I am in favor of a human approach. At the same time, there can be no justification for such behavior and such type of actions in the presence of children and minors, as we saw. It does not matter whether they are the children of an MP or ordinary people. Indeed, no minor, no child deserves to be in such a stressful environment because someone does not like their mother or father. We must divide this. I call on everyone to draw a clear line between political activity or work and the space where public figures are with family members. Especially when it comes to children and minors,” said Levan Ioseliani.

For information, two activists, Tatia Afriamashvili and Lika Lortkipanidze, were sent to 12 days of custody for insulting Georgian Dream MP Mariam Lashkhi. The incident occurred on May 17, when activists Tatia Afriamashvili and Magda Mamukashvili approached the MP in a cafe and shouted: "Freedom to the prisoners of the regime", "Down with the Russian regime". Mariam Lashkhi, who was with her children at the time of the incident, filed a lawsuit against the activists.