Prepared by Messenger Staff
Activist Expelled to Turkey Amid Ongoing Rights Concerns
Temur Katamadze, a Turkish citizen of Georgian descent known for his support of Georgia's pro-European protests, was expelled from the country on June 11, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry. His removal came just after the expiration of a voluntary departure notice, raising criticism from human rights groups and Georgia's president.
Katamadze, 56, had lived in Georgia since 2012 and had applied for citizenship. He gained public attention for consistently appearing at anti-government protests in Batumi, often holding the national flag, earning him the nickname "Batumi's flag bearer." He was arrested twice in January 2024, first for allegedly disobeying police orders and later for residing illegally in the country. During his detention, he went on a hunger strike lasting 48 days.
Authorities said the expulsion was executed in line with legal procedures and based on a court ruling. In April, the Tbilisi Court of Appeals denied his request for refugee or humanitarian protection. The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that force was used to carry out the expulsion.
His legal team, led by the Social Justice Center, criticized the timing of the decision. They said it occurred while a response was still pending from the UN Human Rights Committee, which could have delayed the expulsion. The European Court of Human Rights had declined to impose interim measures in the case.
Georgia's 5th President, Salome Zourabichvili, also condemned the move, accusing the government of bypassing proper legal channels and showing disregard for constitutional principles.
Activist Investigated for Alleged Assault During Court Incident
Georgia's Interior Ministry announced on June 11 that it has opened a criminal investigation against activist Nino Datashvili for allegedly assaulting a court bailiff. The incident took place on June 9 at Tbilisi City Court, where Datashvili attempted to attend a hearing for detained protesters and was forcibly removed from the premises.
According to the ministry, Datashvili did not comply with instructions from court officers and physically assaulted one of them after being told she could not enter the courtroom. Officials said the hearing had already begun, and there was no space available. If found guilty, she faces a fine or a prison sentence of up to three years.
Video from the scene shows several bailiffs surrounding Datashvili as she sits on a bench before forcibly dragging her out of the courthouse. In the footage, she can be heard shouting at the officers to avoid putting pressure on her arm, which she said had recently undergone surgery.
On June 10, a social media post including a screenshot from the video was released, alleging that Datashvili slapped a bailiff. In the clip, she is seen raising her arms in distress while being restrained, though it remains unclear whether any physical contact resembling a slap took place.
