We assess the attack on Zviad Koridze, head of the regional offices of Transparency International Georgia, carried out in Batumi, as a deliberate act of violence and retaliation by Ivanishvili's party against the Georgian civil sector and the representative of Transparency International Georgia. This violent incident is a continuation of the years-long government campaign against our organization.

On January 14-15, 2024, during the night, Zviad Koridze, manager of Transparency International Georgia's regional offices, renowned journalist, and civil activist, was attacked in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel in Batumi. At the time, he was in Batumi on a work-related trip, monitoring the trial of political prisoner Mzia Amaghlobeli [1], founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, and protesting her unlawful arrest.

The group attack involved Dmitri Samkharaidze, regional secretary of the Georgian Dream party, and Giorgi Manvelidze, former chair of the faction Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia in the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, who is now the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economics of Adjara. There are suspicions [2] that the attack also involved judoist and illegitimate parliament member, Varlam Liparteliani. The identities of those involved once again point to the fact that leaders of the Georgian Dream party are participating in the physical retaliation against individuals in civil society and those with critical views. Later, the same individuals attacked former Prime Minister and current leader of the political party For Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia.

These violent acts indicate that the retaliation against individuals with critical views and representatives of our organization is a political decision by the Georgian Dream party, with its openly violent leaders, rather than covertly organized groups, directly involved in its execution. They are tasked with persecuting activists and civil society organizations and attacking them.

We demand that the Georgian Dream's Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor's Office take immediate action against the perpetrators and arrest Dmitri Samkharaidze, Giorgi Manvelidze, and other individuals involved in the attack as soon as possible. Their actions clearly constitute criminal offenses under Article 156 (persecution through violence or threats related to freedom of speech, opinion, or professional activity) and Article 225 (organizing, leading, or participating in group violence) of the Criminal Code.

Transparency International Georgia calls on the management of the Sheraton Hotel to release the video footage due to the high public interest in the case.

We will promptly inform our international partners to ensure an adequate response to both Ivanishvili himself and the actions of his affiliated strongman groups.