Comedian Onise Okriashvili has been attacked. Reports of the incident first appeared on social media, where they were shared by activists. Specifically, photographer Giorgi Mosiashvili reported that Okriashvili was set upon by three men.
“Three men were waiting for Onise Okriashvili near his home and beat him. He is currently being taken to the hospital,” Mosiashvili wrote.
Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs told the online news agency Interpressnews that an investigation has been launched under Article 126 of the Criminal Code, which covers violence.
Reports circulating on social media suggest that the motive for the attack may have been a joke made by Onise Okriashvili on a show. While speculating on who a fictional character might hypothetically “hate,” the comedian cited writer Nodar Dumbadze as a deliberately absurd example. A short, out-of-context clip of the performance was swiftly spread by pro-government television channels and affiliated TikTok and Facebook pages, which framed it as an insult to the writer.