Nodar Rukhadze

Human Rights Activist and Journalist from Georgia, exposing Russian Colonialism; @CheveningFCDO 23/24

[Nodar Rukhadze @xonoda]

I was 11 years old when Russia bombed the Poti port in Georgia. Ear-splitting sounds, fear, and the persistent thought that I wouldn’t see my parents again are things I’ll never forget. After 14 years, Russia continues its brutality in Ukraine. The evil empire must fall.

[Anna Gvarishvili @AnnaGvarishvili]

BREAKING: Six participants in the October 4 #GeorgiaProtests have been sentenced to prison terms of up to five years. Unlike many others, they refused plea deals because they would have required admitting guilt.

Among those sentenced is 72-year-old doctor Giorgi Chakhunashvili, who received a five-year prison sentence.

Ia Darakhvelidze was sentenced to two years in prison.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

I congratulate Georgia and the Georgian people on their Independence Day. Our two nations share long-standing ties and a common understanding of the value of freedom and dignity.

I wish Georgia peace, unity, strength, and prosperity. We count on a mutually beneficial relationship and Ukraine stands ready to move toward this.

[Mariam Geguchadze @mariamgegu]

Imagine arresting someone for 3 days just for standing on a sidewalk.

This is the reality in Georgia today. My mom, Nanuka Zhorzholiani was detained not for violence, not for breaking the law, but for peacefully showing up.
#GeorgiaProtests

[Anna Gvarishvili @AnnaGvarishvili]

Breaking: One of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s close associates, Giorgi Udzilauri, has been arrested on charges of spying for “one of the European countries” and allegedly selling information about special forces in exchange for money. 1/

[Sergey Lagodinsky @SLagodinsky]

Could we please please invite JD Vance to Tbilisi now?

[The New York Times @nytimes]

Breaking News: Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat on Sunday in a high-stakes general election in Hungary. His defeat is a blow to the global nationalist revival promoted by President Trump. https://t.co/j55374ZnYC

[Anna Gvarishvili @AnnaGvarishvili]

Just in: Democratic political party @DroaParty leader @Helenkhosh has been sentenced to 1.5 years in prison for writing “russian” on a GD mayoral campaign banner, in solidarity with a student arrested on the same charges.

She was initially detained in September 2025.

[Rusudan Djakeli 🇬🇪🇺🇦 @rusudanjakeli]

Sally Bakradze on the long-term effects of exposure to the chemical agent used by GD during last December’s crackdowns:

“Photos were taken in April–May.
Symptoms began in March, came back every 10 days, each time worse: swelling, burning, itching around the eyes.

The peak was May 18. It started burning, itching. I rushed home and in 30 minutes my face looked 30 years older. I thought I’d lose my mind.

I saw dermatologists, ophthalmologists, allergists, neurologists — no one could explain it. Final diagnosis: keratitis, but the cause couldn’t be identified. One doctor noted that keratitis can be triggered by chemically contaminated water.

Only Dr. Telia suspected a delayed reaction to a substance that had entered my system. Neither he nor I considered that tear gas and water cannon exposure could show up 2 months later.

I was exhausted. I kept thinking: how could this happen when all my tests were clean, I take care of my health, my immunity is strong?

Let them summon me. I have nothing to hide.
Just tell me — what was I poisoned with?” #theCamiteCase

[Mariam Nikuradze @mari_nikuradze]

On the very first day of the protest, I was poisoned by the substance mixed in the water canon. I was in the middle of Rustaveli, standing very close to the riot police. The water sprinkled all over my face, I lost coordination, couldn't move. My colleague recognized me and walked me to the ambulance, where I spent around 15 minutes to regain my senses. Face, throat, everything was burning.
For 4 or 5 months since being poisoned, I had very frequent, almost daily nose bleeds, which started on that day.
Georgian Dream never disclosed what substance was mixed in water canon that day despite many efforts from various groups. Dozens reported some sort of long effects they experienced after being poisoned on that day.
BBC investigation now suggests that WW1 toxic compound was used on us.
https://t.co/3pskJuwVeu

[Mariam Nikuradze @mari_nikuradze]

Protesters mark Ukraine Independence Day in Tbilisi.

[MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 @MFA_Ukraine]

All these cities are located in Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the so-called #Donbas.

All these cities have been already reduced to ashes by the Russian army.

All these cities were once full of Ukrainians – children, families. Ukrainians whom Russian war criminals have either killed, captured, forcibly transferred, or driven from their homes under relentless attacks – now cynically calling a "brotherly nation".

Having left nothing but ruins behind, Putin still seeks to seize and destroy more, to turn new cities into the same lifeless wasteland. Russia’s war is not just against Ukraine’s territory – it is against the very right of Ukrainians to exist.

The U.S., European and other partners have the strength to make Russia stop. Strong, coordinated actions grounded in justice, sovereignty, and Ukraine’s territorial integrity will bring a just and lasting peace.

[PUBLIKA @Publika_ge]

Judge Nino Sakhelashbili sentenced Mzia Amaglobeli to 2 years in prison, reclassifying the charge and finding her guilty not of assaulting a police officer, but of resisting police officers.

#TerrorinGeorgia

[Nodar Rukhadze @xonoda]

In November 2020, my friend Giorgi and I organised a series of demonstrations against the falsification of parliamentary elections and politically motivated COVID-19 restrictions under the Georgian Dream regime. During one of these protests, we were arrested (my second of five arrests). After our detention, Giorgi was repeatedly and violently assaulted by police officers while I was forced to watch. His hands were handcuffed behind his back as police officers took turns beating him and slamming his forehead against the concrete, all in the backyard of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ central building. He was then sentenced to three days in a detention facility. I was subjected to a month-long trial that ultimately ended with a fine.

Today, the European Court of Human Rights delivered a judgment in our favour in the case of Mjavanadze and Rukhadze v. Georgia. The Court found that both of our rights under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, had been violated. It also ruled that my right to a fair trial under Article 6 was breached, as the domestic court relied solely on an uncorroborated police statement to convict me, effectively shifting the burden of proof onto me.

The Court recognised that our protest addressed issues of public interest and that our arrests were unjustified. It concluded that the Georgian authorities acted disproportionately and failed to uphold the fundamental standards of justice and democratic accountability.

To everyone standing up to authoritarianism: truth and freedom do prevail. The road is long, often cruel, and rarely fair, but justice has a memory. Keep going. History belongs to those who refuse to give up on freedom.

[Nodar Rukhadze @xonoda]

It’s been five years since cameraman Lekso Lashkarava was murdered. Yet, those responsible have still not faced justice.

[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty @RFERL]

Georgian police have seized the corpse of a TV cameraman who was injured on July 5 from his Tbilisi apartment after his family refused a state-led forensic autopsy. Lekso Lashkarava was one of 53 journalists beaten by violent mobs protesting against LGBT pride events​.

[Salome Zourabichvili @Zourabichvili_S]

As they weaken, Georgian Dream tries to appear strong - but it’s just an illusion. New repressive laws, arbitrary arrests and fines are all signs of desperation, not power. This is their last stage, not a comeback.

[Salome Zourabichvili @Zourabichvili_S]

#TerrorInGeorgia A country that abducts its own citizen abroad, ignores all legal procedures like extradition and secretly deports Temur Katamadze without notice has abandoned its constitution and rule of law. This is no longer a state, it’s something else entirely.

[JAMnews @JAMnewsCaucasus]

The video shows Zurab “Girchi” Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Georgian opposition coalition “For Change,” embracing his wife before being handcuffed and taken away by court bailiffs.

Japaridze was arrested inside the courtroom after the court ruled to place him in pre-trial detention. He had previously refused to pay GEL 20,000 (about USD 7,100) in bail after failing to appear before a parliamentary investigative commission probing the actions of the former government. Former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili was similarly arrested earlier under the same circumstances — refusal to attend the hearing and to pay bail.

The court session was held amid scuffles between Japaridze’s supporters and law enforcement both outside and inside the court building, as many were barred from entering the courtroom, despite no legal grounds to restrict access.

The decision was announced in the absence of Japaridze’s lawyers, who walked out in protest. The court chose not to appoint a state lawyer in their place.

[Mariam Geguchadze @mariamgegu]

Welcome to The Georgian Diaries — your weekly insight into Georgia’s fight for democracy.

Today is Day 162 of nonstop protests against the Russian-backed regime. The people demand justice.

Stay tuned.

#GeorgiaProtests

[Serving Georgia @ServingG32005]

Georgian Diaries #1 : Raids

Launching our series on what life is like in Georgia right now - protests, government pressure, and the fight to keep voices heard.

@mariamgegu is the one presenting the latest updates to you.

#GeorgiaProtests #terrorinGeorgia #ServingGeorgia

[Alex Raufoglu @ralexdc]

'@RepJoeWilson: "The passage of the MEGOBARI Act, with a mandate vote of nearly 90 percent, demonstrates America’s support for legitimate President @Zourabichvili_S and the Georgian people and the rejection of the tyrannical mafia cabal, which is selling out Georgia to dictators. The Georgian Dream insults President Trump. The only way forward is for fair elections and the release of all political prisoners"