Georgian Blogger Faces Penalty Over Facebook Comment He Says Targeted Kremlin Propagandists

Georgian government-critical blogger Tornike Razmadze faces a fine or administrative detention over a Facebook comment he says targeted Kremlin propagandists Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Solovyov. The comment, which contains swearing and was posted beneath his August reel comparing narratives by Simonyan and Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, does not explicitly identify a target but contains a reference to a phrase used by Simonyan in the video. The copy of the case files shared by Razmadze shows the Interior Ministry’s Division for Combating Hate Speech launching administrative proceedings over Razmadze’s comment reading “f**k their moms na koleniakh”. The comment seems to refer to Simonyan’s remarks featured in the reel where she says Georgian rulers will be begging “на коленях” [na koleniakh] — “on their knees” in Russian — for “Mother Russia” to take it back.

Per the files, Razmadze faces proceedings under Article 166-1 of the Administrative Offence Code, which covers “petty hooliganism” – in particular “swearing, harassing citizens in public spaces, and other such acts that disturb public order and/or citizens’ peace,” and is punishable by a fine from GEL 500 to 3,000 or administrative detention of up to 20 days. The Ministry reportedly does not specify in the files who is the alleged target of the offensive comment. The Ministry “is proceeding against me over insulting and swearing at Russian propagandists Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Solovyov,” Razmadze said in a video address on September 10. Following widespread backlash, the Interior Ministry made a statement on September 10 vaguely implying Razmadze is targeted for insulting Kobakhidze. However, citing the court files, Razmadze argues that the official allegations against him only cover…