Papuashvili on Sanaia's Detention: "I Have Nothing to Do With It At All"

Shalva Papuashvili says that he has no connection to the detention of journalist Vakho Sanaia. A journalist from "TV Pirveli" asked him whether he feels awkward that Sanaia has to be jailed for 30 days because of him.

"[Vakho Sanaia is in jail] not because of me, but because of his own obscenity. I have nothing to do with it at all", Papuashvili said. According to him, "everyone is responsible for their own behavior".

Over 2 posts and a video Sanaia wrote on Facebook, he was once again remanded in custody, this time for 30 days. Judge Tornike Kochkiani announced the decision on October 19. Sanaia did not attend the hearing; police detained him near his home.

In the video, Sanaia calls Shalva Papuashvili a "representative of the Mecklenburg sect". At the end of the video he says the words "yes, and Shalva", after which a segment from the TV series "My Wife's Friends" is inserted.

On July 22, the journalist was sentenced to 14 days of administrative detention for a similar "offense" by Judge Zviad Tsekvava, and on July 10, Judge Tornike Kochkiani fined him 6,000 lari.