On February 12, 2025, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs filed a case against Publika journalist and photojournalist Aleksandre Keshelashvili. The ministry accuses him of violating Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code, which relate to petty hooliganism and disobedience to police. The court hearing is scheduled for February 25 at 4:00 PM.
The alleged offense took place on November 19, 2024—the same day Keshelashvili himself became the target of police violence. He was arrested and brutally beaten while covering a pro-European protest in Tbilisi.
“I kept repeating that I was a journalist, but it seemed to have the opposite effect—they were already cursing me, and then added more abuse because I was from the media. They made me walk through a sort of ‘corridor’ where they beat me, mostly in the face,” Keshelashvili said.
He required medical treatment and underwent nasal surgery. Although the Special Investigation Service opened an inquiry into the assault, not a single law enforcement officer has been held accountable to date.
