Georgian opposition party condemns attack on citizen who earlier called ruling party MPs ‘traitors’

The opposition party Gakharia for Georgia on Tuesday condemned the attack on Lasha Gabitashvili, an individual who last month called ruling Georgian Dream party MPs traitors while in Abu Dhabi.

In a statement released by the party, they accused the GD “regime” of “using intimidation tactics to suppress opposition and stifle freedom of expression”.

Gabitashvili, a vocal critic of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was attacked by three masked men on Tuesday in Tbilisi. The assault occurred while he was walking his dog near his home. Gabitashvili, who has been physically targeted before, was visibly injured in the incident, with bruises apparent on his face in a video shared on social media.

The Gakharia for Georgia denounced the violence, drawing attention to the ongoing pattern of physical aggression against political opponents. “This is Ivanishvili’s violent retaliation against citizens,” the party said, adding that those who had advocated for peace before the elections are now forced to defend themselves from attack. “People who spoke of peace are now hiding behind masks and attacking citizens in their own homes.”

The party also argued that such violent acts reveal the government’s illegitimacy and reliance on force to maintain control. “With these actions, they confirm that their existence is based solely on violence,” the statement continued.

Gabitashvili, who was previously assaulted by Georgian Dream MPs in Abu Dhabi last month, responded to the attack with defiance. In the video, he declared, “You can’t scare anyone. It’s time for new elections and to release those in prison… We will live here, and those people will escape.”