Police detained Tamaz Elizbarashvili, a prominent government-critical animal rights defender and dog shelter owner, on administrative charges of police disobedience as police searched his house as part of a separate probe in the evening hours of September 1.
The Interior Ministry told Civil.ge that Elizbarashvili was detained on charges of police disobedience. The administrative detention, however, came after police first stopped and searched him in a car in Tbilisi and later searched his home as part of a probe into allegations of “threat” and the purchase and possession of firearms.
While police have yet to reveal more details, the probe reportedly follows Elizbarashvili’s conflict with a group of five to eight people two days earlier, with his family and lawyer suggesting the group “likely” included the employees of pro-government Imedi TV channel.
According to his wife, Elizbarashvili was confronted by five men in Restaurant “Skhva” in Tbilisi on August 30, with the men allegedly saying they were working for Imedi. The wife said they were asking Elizbarashvili to apologize for his social media posts about Russia and pro-Russians.
In a post published on the Facebook page of Elizbarashvili’s dog shelter on August 31, Elizbarashvili addressed “employees of TV Imedi,” telling them that they had “really crossed the line” with him the previous night at Restaurant “Skhva”, and giving them until the end of the day to apologize.
Following the home search, Elizbarashvili’s lawyer, Ia Siranashvili, accused police of physical violence, alleging that she was not allowed to attend the search and “five police officers” kicked her.
Police are also reportedly searching Elizbarashvili’s dog shelter.
More to follow…
