Former Georgian prime minister hospitalised after beating, blames government
ReutersJAN 27
Georgia: Former Prime Minister Assaulted, Opposition Blames Ruling Party Members
Above: Former Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia arrives at a polling station during the parliamentary elections in Tbilisi, Georgia on Oct. 26, 2024. Image copyright: Mirian Meladze/Anadolu/Contributor via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
While Gakharia is fine now, the brutal assault against him is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what the ruling Georgian Dream party has done to the people of the country. Georgians and the international community must focus on and support those unlawfully arrested by the authoritarian regime.
Narrative B
It's outrageous that the opposition is relying on false narratives to deceive the public at home and abroad and destabilize the country. It was Gakharia who initiated violence as he threw a drink at Georgian Dream's Dimitri Samkharadze. Though no one wants such an incident to take place, the reaction was fully justified.