Georgian blogger says Interior Ministry wants to punish him for insulting Russian propagandists
Civil rights activist and blogger Tornike Razmadze says Georgia’s Interior Ministry has summoned him to court to impose a fine or administrative detention because he insulted Kremlin propagandists Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Solovyov in response to their insults against Georgian King Erekle II.
Georgia’s recently established Hate Speech Unit at the Interior Ministry has accused Razmadze of violating Article 166, Part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offences. The provision covers swearing in a public place and carries a fine of 500 to 3,000 lari ($185–1,110) or administrative detention for up to 20 days.
According to the activist, the case concerns a video he posted several weeks ago in which Russian propagandists discussed Erekle II, calling him a “king who crawled on his knees”. Margarita Simonyan, in particular, claimed that King Erekle had begged the Russians for help “on his knees” and that modern Georgians would likewise get down on their knees and ask Russia to take them under its protection.
Tornike Razmadze explains that this was why he used obscene language against Simonyan and Solovyov — more precisely, against their mothers.
According to the blogger, Simonyan and Solovyov effectively insulted the ruling Georgian Dream party as well. What angers him most is that, instead of taking offence at the Russian propagandists, the government wants to punish the person who insulted them. Razmadze sees this message from the authorities as the most important aspect of the whole case.
The activist also appealed to Georgia’s Public Defender (Ombudsman):
“I am not asking you for protection or support. I have one simple request: record your position on the case opened against me. I simply want to hear your position.”
However, the Interior Ministry’s Hate Speech Unit said the case had nothing to do with kings or propagandists. It said Tornike Razmadze was accused of insulting Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
“Insulting comments on social media by citizen Tornike Razmadze and Anna Bdeyan directed at Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze were identified. Administrative proceedings have been launched against them under Articles 166 and 173,” the Interior Ministry said.
The blogger’s lawyer, Mikheil Zakareishvili, in turn, says the Interior Ministry deliberately added Article 173, which concerns insulting a public official, to the charges. He says the original reports did not contain such wording. The lawyer is convinced that the case was opened specifically because of the insults directed at Simonyan and Solovyov.
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) considers the case against Razmadze another example of restrictions on freedom of expression. The association says prosecuting people over statements made on social media violates their fundamental constitutional rights and freedom of expression.
What is the Hate Speech Unit
The new Hate Speech Unit at Georgia’s Interior Ministry began operating on 1 June 2026. According to the ministry, its main task is to identify public statements that demean human dignity or are offensive and may constitute administrative offences.
Over the past three months, the unit has fined dozens of people. Vakhtang Sanaya, a journalist and presenter on Formula TV, became the first person to receive a two-week administrative detention sentence. Activist Giorgi Akhobadze also received a one-month detention sentence for a Facebook post.
Georgian blogger insults Simonyan
