Georgian translator Data Kharaishvili: “They hate us, just like all the members of the Georgian Dream”

Georgian children’s literature translator Data Kharaishvili, beaten during the protests in Georgia on December 3, 2024, was given a “verbal warning” by the court.

Kharaishvili was held in jail for two days with serious injuries, including a concussion, broken nose, and broken cheekbone, before being released and hospitalized. The man allegedly received no medical attention during his detention.

The attack on Kharaishvili, a participant in peaceful protests and the winner of translation competitions in Georgia, took place near Shota Rustaveli Avenue, the main street of Tbilisi, during a moment when he was not participating in the protest.

“I was standing at the corner of Taras Shevchenko and Lesia Ukrayinka streets, scrolling through my social networks, when a group of people, who were being chased, ran towards me,” says Kharaishvili, attacked by so-called “police.”

The translator said there were five or six attackers, all wearing masks. He said they grabbed and beat him, ripped off his earring, and stole his phone, car keys, and watch before dragging him into a van, where they were allegedly beating another protester.

“When I was thrown into the car, those who were beating the other man asked if I was ‘done,’ probably wanting to know if I had already been beaten. I thought I was pretty ‘done,’ but they said I wasn’t and continued to beat me,” Kharaishvili added.

Kharaishvili said more new detainees were brought to the van and repeatedly beaten. The attackers asked whether the detainees would continue to attend the protests, who was paying them for their participation, why they wanted “to involve Georgia in the war against Russia,” and so on.

“They are brainwashed,” said Kharaishvili. “They hate us, just like all the members of the Georgian Dream, like all the people who are now working in the police. They probably hate us because of the propaganda.”

In addition, the “police” representatives filmed the beatings, and that, according to Kharaishvili, gave them a lot of satisfaction. Or, he added, maybe they were using the footage to report the beatings to their bosses. 

The translator assures us that 99% of the cultural community does not support the Georgian Dream party. Despite the very difficult situation and police brutality, the protests continue.

It’s terrible to see a democratic country turning into Belarus,

commented Kharaishvili.

Data Kharaishvili was charged with “disobedience to police.” That being the only charge against him, Kharaishvili was released. However, other protestors told Chytomo that those who were released are still facing trial. The translator is currently unable to leave his home due to a concussion.

As reported earlier, on December 3-4 activists brought photos of the beaten and arrested protesters to the Writers’ House in Tbilisi, including a photo of Data Kharaishvili. Poets Zviad Ratiani and Tornike Chelidze, members of Georgia’s literary community, were detained too.

On November 29, Ratiani, one of Georgia’s most prominent contemporary poets, was beaten by security forces during protests in Tbilisi. In addition, Ratiani was detained for eight days, exceeding the detention of other protesters.

Chelidze was also sentenced to seven days in prison after being violently beaten.

Currently, the police, special forces, and “titushki” (a collective term for agents provocateurs and hired thugs) continue to persecute peaceful protesters, accompanying arrests with beatings. Videos of these attacks continue to appear on social media, with some being published by the president of the International Publishers Association, Georgian publisher Gvantsa Jobava.

As reported earlier, PEN Ukraine has already issued a statement in support of the Georgian literary community and journalists. PEN International also called on Georgia’s police to stop the violence.

Copy editing: Joy Tataryn