Gia ‘Utsnobi’ Gachechiladze

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Gia ‘Utsnobi’ Gachechiladze on stage during the rally. Photo: IPN.

Georgia

Government supporters rally against Western ‘interference’ and ‘LGBT propaganda’ in Tbilisi

by Shota Kincha

•4 min read

Thousands of Georgians gathered on Sunday on the First Republic Square in Tbilisi to attend a demonstration organised by Gia Gachechiladze, a conservative media personality better known by his nickname Utsnobi (‘unknown’). Aside from being a well-known pop singer, Gachechiladze is an ardent supporter of the Georgian Dream-led government and a vocal opponent of its domestic and foreign critics. Two years ago, he briefly reappeared on the political stage with a similar rally but with arguably mo

Vano Merabishvili addressing a UNM rally in April 2013. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Georgia

Georgia ‘investigating’ alleged assault on former PM Vano Merabishvili

by Tata Shoshiashvili

•1 min read

Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation into an alleged attack on former Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Vano Merabishvili, by the son-in-law of conservative campaigner Gia ‘Utsnobi’ Gachechiladze. Speaking to Rustavi 2 on Wednesday, Giorgi Sharashidze confirmed that he ‘physically contacted’ Vano Merabishvili on Monday. ‘There was a confrontation between me and Vano Merabishvili at a pharmacy in Vake. I can’t even call it a confrontation, because Mr Merabi

A screenshot from the TV Maestro programme in which the recording was published.

Georgia

Leaked recording suggests surveillance of Georgian newsroom

by Tata Shoshiashvili

•2 min read

A leaked audio recording of employees of Mtavari discussing editorial matters suggests that the pro-opposition TV station may have been illegally monitored. On Wednesday, Gia Gachechiladze, known as ‘Utsnobi’, released the recording on his own TV show, ‘Utsnobis kidobani’, on the pro-government TV station Maestro. Gachechiladze is a singer and conservative activist and has been an outspoken critic of the opposition United National Movement Party since they were in power 10 years ago. Gachech

Protesters march down the motorway along the right bank of the River Mtkvari. Photo: Mariam Nikuradze/OC Media.

Georgia

Conservative demonstration draws thousands to Tbilisi

by Shota Kincha

•4 min read

Thousands have gathered in Tbilisi for a protest organised by Gia ‘Utsnobi’ Gachechiladze, a former singer and prominent cultural figure. The formal goal of the event was to establish ‘the Day of Eternity of Georgia and Georgian People’, which coincided with the anniversary of the violent dispersal of anti-USSR demonstrations by the Soviet army in Tbilisi in 1989. However, in the run-up to the demonstration and during it, Gachechiladze offered only vague messages targeting liberal groups cri