A court in Tbilisi fined activist Tamar Giorgadze 3,000 lari (about $1,100) for a Facebook post that the authorities deemed a violation of public order.
On June 11, she spoke out harshly against billionaire and Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili and his inner circle, including wishing them death. Following this, the police filed a report and referred the case to court.
Giorgadze did not attend the hearing, stating that she had not insulted them but had merely used harsh language.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia established a Hate Speech Department, which began operating on June 1, 2026. Dozens of cases related to social media posts have already been referred to court.
Opponents of the government believe that this department could be used as a tool to pressure internet users. Locally, it is colloquially referred to as the “screenshot department.”
The Ministry of Internal Affairs maintains that they are simply monitoring social media and responding to violations. Such cases in the country are treated as “minor hooliganism” or insulting public officials (this article was introduced into the law in 2026).
