Liberal MP Allegedly Attacked Near Parliament

Two persons allegedly assaulted and verbally abused opposition Republican Party leaders MP Khatuna Samnidze and Davit Berdzenishvili nearby the Georgian Parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s main thoroughfare.

Speaking with reporters following the alleged incident, MP Samnidze said the two persons acted aggressively, threatened, insulted, and attacked the opposition politicians, and then also chased them down.

MP Samnidze said one of the persons physically attacked her after she stepped in during the man’s fight with Berdzenisvhili.

The opposition lawmaker said the persons had threatened the politicians that they would “not be able to go out in the city alone.”

The politicians said the two persons were angered at Davit Berdzenishvili’s brother, Levan Berdzenishvili — a former party member — over his highly controversial recent remarks of Erekle II, the 18th-century king of East Georgian Kartli-Kakheti Kingdom.

Police detained the two men on the spot, according to MP Samnidze.

The Interior Ministry told Civil.ge that the police opened a probe under Article 126 of the Criminal Code, involving violence.

NB: This news piece initially incorrectly reported that police had opened the probe under Article 266 of the Criminal Code. The mistake was amended at 21:57, June 6.

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