Reacting to the 14-day jailing of journalist Vakho Sanaia over his satirical Facebook posts and a reported assault on comedian Onise Okriashvili following a smear campaign in pro-government media prompted by a joke he had made, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Regional Director, said:
“Beating up and imprisoning government critics is nothing new in Georgia, but in their ongoing crusade against free speech the authorities are now cracking down hard on those who dare to crack a joke. A witty punchline may now cost someone their freedom or their health, if not both.
“Satire, including the use of language that shocks or offends, is protected by the right to freedom of expression. No-one should be deprived of their liberty merely for ridiculing those in power. Those exercising political authority can be legitimately subjected to criticism.
“In Vakho Sanaia’s case, the violation is direct and unequivocal: the authorities prosecuted and imprisoned him solely for protected expression. Onise Okriashvili’s case raises a different but equally serious concern. While the available information does not establish that state officials ordered, participated in or were otherwise connected to this particular attack, Amnesty International has documented a clear pattern in Georgia in which campaigns vilifying government opponents are followed by violence against them.”
“The Georgian authorities must immediately release Vakho Sanaia and ensure a prompt and effective investigation of the attack on Onise Okriashvili, identify all those responsible and bring them to justice in fair proceedings.”
Background
On 22 July 2026, Tbilisi City Court sentenced journalist and TV Formula presenter Vakho Sanaia to 14 days of so-called administrative detention, over Facebook posts that mocked the Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili and MP Vladimir Bozhadze. In his first post, Sanaia sarcastically urged people not to use an insult against them while using it himself, for which he was fined GEL 6,000 (US$ 2,280) on 10 July. He responded online with a similar post reproducing the words he had been fined for – which led to his detention.
Hours after Sanaia was jailed, comedian Onise Okriashvili, a popular figure among government’s critics and active participant of the ongoing protests, was reportedly attacked outside his home by three unidentified men. The assault followed days of hostile coverage and vilification in pro-government media over a joke he had made about the late Georgian writer Nodar Dumbadze. During a studio appearance, he jokingly said that he hated Dumbadze and immediately clarified that he was only joking and in fact was criticizing the government. Amnesty International has previously documented a pattern whereby vilification of government opponents in Georgia has been followed by intimidation and violent attacks against them.