Opposition Leader Giorgi Gakharia Assaulted in Batumi

Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia was hospitalized after being attacked by multiple men in the lobby of a Batumi hotel, sustaining a concussion and a broken nose. His party, For Georgia, condemned the assault as a politically motivated attack, linking it to escalating tensions following the allegations of election rigging by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Eyewitnesses reported that members of Georgian Dream were involved in the assault, including MP Dmitry Samkharadze, raising concerns over political violence. Despite the police opening an investigation into the incident, they arrived 40 minutes late, prompting criticism regarding their response. Gakharia reassured supporters that he was in stable health following the attack. The incident reflects a broader climate of unrest in Georgia, where protests have erupted against the government amid claims of suppressing dissent and democratic freedoms.