Prepared by Messenger Staff
Comedian Attacked in Tbilisi After Pro-Government Media Campaign Over Joke
Onise Okriashvili, a stand-up comedian and participant in Georgia's anti-government protests, was assaulted by three men near his home in Tbilisi on July 22 after days of pro-government media coverage criticizing a joke in which he mentioned celebrated Georgian writer Nodar Dumbadze. Okriashvili was hospitalized with head and other injuries, according to his wife.
The Interior Ministry said it had opened an investigation into the assault under Article 126 of the Criminal Code. Authorities said one of the alleged attackers later appeared at a police station and was arrested the following morning.
Video of the assault shows one attacker shouting, "How can you speak about Nodar Dumbadze like that?" The remark referred to a joke Okriashvili made during a July 12 performance that pro-government media repeatedly circulated as an insult to the late writer. Days before the attack, Okriashvili said Georgian Dream's propaganda was encouraging people to act against him and denied insulting Dumbadze.
Ketevan Dumbadze, the writer's daughter and a former Georgian Dream MP, condemned the attack, saying violence was unacceptable regardless of Okriashvili's remarks.
Andria Liluashvili Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison in Bribery and Money Laundering Case
The Tbilisi City Court has sentenced Andria Liluashvili, a relative of former State Security Service chief Grigol Liluashvili, to 12 years in prison after finding him guilty of bribery, assisting in accepting bribes, and laundering illicit income.
According to the Prosecutor's Office, Liluashvili helped protect fraudulent call centers through his relative and facilitated the payment of $1.365 million in bribes to Grigol Liluashvili between 2021 and 2022.
The court also ruled that Liluashvili laundered proceeds from the scheme by moving the money through bank accounts and affiliated companies before using it to acquire assets in Georgia and abroad.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the confiscation of assets linked to the crimes, including about 70 properties worth approximately 35 million GEL, 17 vehicles, 125 pieces of jewelry and paintings, and funds held in bank accounts.
