Reacting to the 14-day jailing of journalist Vakho Sanaia over his satirical Facebook posts and a reported assault on comedian Onise Okriashvili following a smear campaign in pro-government media prompted by a joke he had made, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Regional Director, said:
“Beating up and imprisoning government critics is nothing new in Georgia, but in their ongoing crusade against free speech the authorities are now cracking down hard on those who dare to crack a joke. A witty punchline may now cost someone their freedom or their health, if not both.
“Satire, including the use of language that shocks or offends, is protected by the right to freedom of expression. No-one should be deprived of their liberty merely for ridiculing those in power. Those exercising political authority can be legitimately subjected to criticism.
“In Vakho Sanaia’s case, the violation is direct and unequivocal: the authorities prosecuted and imprisoned him solely for protected expression. Onise Okriashvili’s case raises a different but equally serious concern. While the available information does not establish that state officials ordered, participated in or were otherwise connected to this particular attack, Amnesty International has documented a clear pattern in Georgia in which campaigns vilifying government opponents are followed by violence against them.”
