GYLA considers that the initiation of an administrative offense case against Tornike Razmadze over a Facebook comment is a precedent of censorship - we call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to terminate the proceedings initiated in the said case and refrain from controlling and punishing critical expression, - this is noted in a statement by the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association.

According to their statement, the administrative proceedings initiated against Tornike Razmadze are yet another example of the restriction of freedom of expression.

“According to information disseminated by activist Tornike Razmadze on 10 September 2026, administrative offense proceedings were initiated against him over a comment made in the comments under a video published on Facebook about statements by Irakli Kobakhidze and Russian propagandists Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Solovyov. According to the disseminated information, the Ministry of Internal Affairs considered that the comment ‘contains signs of a presumed administrative offense provided for by Part 1 of Article 166 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Georgia.’

According to the explanation given by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to TV Pirveli, ‘they work on a daily basis to detect those administrative offenses that include both the insult of a specific person and cursing and swearing in public space. Within this framework, the insulting comments of citizen Tornike Razmadze and also of Ana Bdeiani have been identified, who insulted Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on social media. Administrative proceedings against them are being conducted on the basis of Articles 166 and 173.’

Part 1 of Article 166 of the Code of Administrative Offenses means cursing and swearing in public space, insulting remarks toward citizens, and other such actions that violate public order and/or the peace of citizens. The norm provides for a fine in the amount of 500 to 3,000 lari or administrative detention for a term of up to 20 days as a sanction.

It is noteworthy that Margarita Simonyan (editor of the Russian propaganda media outlet Russia Today) and Vladimir Solovyov (television host of Russian state media) are Russian propagandists who are distinguished by pro-Putinist, including anti-Georgian, anti-Ukrainian and war-supporting rhetoric. In the video in connection with which, according to the disseminated information, proceedings against the activist followed a comment, Margarita Simonyan speaks about the history of Georgia-Russia and says that ‘King Erekle, kneeling, asked for forgiveness in order to be received into Mother Russia [...] we will again see how the new King Erekles will beg Mother Russia.’ In connection with this statement by Simonyan, Tornike Razmadze recorded a video in which he compared Simonyan’s statements with those made by Irakli Kobakhidze at a briefing dedicated to Russophobia. In the comments under the same video the activist wrote ‘I f*ck their mother “na kolenyakh”.’

The punishment by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of critically minded people under the pretext of insult in public space has become a disturbing practice that aims at intimidating society, punishing sharp political expression and creating a chilling effect. It is not new that the state completely disregards the standards established for the protection of freedom of expression, including that it does not take into account the importance of expression in public discussion and does not assess the necessity and proportionality of the interference.

GYLA, with reference to the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, has repeatedly noted that the mere use of vulgar phrases is not sufficient for a statement to be considered insulting or disruptive of public order. It must be taken into account that vulgar expression may have only a stylistic load. National courts must maintain an appropriate balance and must distinguish protected political or public-interest expression from unjustified personal insult.

The administrative proceedings initiated against Tornike Razmadze are yet another example of the restriction of freedom of expression. At the same time, this case particularly clearly demonstrates the absurdity and cynicism of similar administrative offense cases. In addition to the fact that the state completely disregards the context of the comment and its importance in public discussion, in this case the target of creating a chilling effect also becomes critical expression directed at the Kremlin’s anti-Georgian propaganda,” - the statement says.