“Transparency International-Georgia” accuses the court and prosecution of bias and inaction in connection with the attack on journalist Zviad Koridze in January, while blaming the government for “protecting its violent supporters.”

According to the organization’s statement, the incident refers to an attack on Koridze that took place on the night of January 14-15 in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel in Batumi.

“A group consisting of representatives of ‘Georgian Dream’ physically and verbally assaulted Zviad Koridze, the manager of Transparency International-Georgia’s regional offices, a journalist, and a civic activist. The attack was led by Dimitri Samkharadze, one of the most notorious figures in Ivanishvili’s circle and the regional secretary of ‘Georgian Dream.’ Also participating in the attack were Giorgi Manvelidze, the former chairman of the ‘Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia’ faction in the Adjara Supreme Council and, at the time, deputy minister of finance and economy of Adjara; Gocha Samkharadze, presumably a relative of Dimitri Samkharadze and the driver of an accompanying person; and several other individuals. Zviad Koridze was in Batumi on a work assignment, monitoring a court case involving political prisoner and journalist Mzia Amaglobeli,” the statement reads.

According to the organization, the Adjara Prosecutor’s Office took certain actions on the case only after Transparency International issued a statement about it.

“Prosecutor Paata Tsetskhladze charged only one person, Gocha Samkharadze, who struck Koridze. No charges were brought against Dimitri Samkharadze, Giorgi Manvelidze, or other members of the group. The prosecutor’s resolution described the violence against Zviad Koridze in a very brief and distorted manner. Despite the group violence, charges were filed against only one person, leaving the other attackers unpunished. The prosecution deliberately concealed the full picture of the crime and the roles of other participants. Judge Viktor Metreveli found Gocha Samkharadze guilty under Article 126 of the Criminal Code and imposed a fine of only 3,000 GEL. This decision is yet another example of how the regime shields its violent supporters,” the statement reads.

Transparency International-Georgia considers Zviad Koridze’s case to be symbolic.

“This case is symbolic because the Batumi incident involving Zviad Koridze is closely linked to Mzia Amaglobeli’s case. While journalist Mzia Amaglobeli faces a minimum of four years in prison for allegedly slapping a police officer, only one of the participants in the group violence against Koridze was punished, and even then with an inappropriately lenient penalty. The dictatorial regime not only intensifies pressure on those who oppose inequality and injustice but also protects those who reinforce this regime through their violent actions,” the statement reads.