Ruska Mchedlidze Says Administrative Proceedings Initiated Against Her for Insulting Bailiff

Activist Ruska Mchedlidze says that administrative proceedings have been initiated against her on the pretext of insulting a bailiff. The hearing is scheduled for October 26.

The case relates to an incident at the Tbilisi City Court on July 28. At that time, the administrative collegium was considering the "Bidzina *Lea – Ki! Ara!" banner cases. On the night of July 28, bailiffs forcibly removed citizens who were waiting for the processing of detainees near the council from the building. The victims stated that the bailiffs had assaulted Ruska Mchedlidze and lawyer Marika Arevadze.

The prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the incident at the court under Article 333, Part 3, Subparagraph "b" of the Criminal Code, which refers to the abuse of official powers involving violence.

On October 13, Ruska Mchedlidze wrote that this investigation had been "shelved", while administrative proceedings had been initiated against her under Part 1 of Article 173¹⁶ of the Code of Administrative Offenses. This article refers to insulting a political official or a public servant.

"Systematically violent bailiffs Davit Matiashvili, Otar Kvinikadze and Gocha Nanobashvili are being charged, who on July 28 bruised me in the yard of the unjust court and themselves committed the crime.

An expert examination was carried out on my bruised body, and the prosecutor's office launched an investigation against them under Article 133, Part 3 for the act of violence and shelved it.

Their offended dignity, which they do not have at all, they remembered after 76 days! Apparently, insult also has an incubation period, it must first become stale, then it gains legal force" – writes Ruska Mchedlidze.