“All seven of the organizations that the regime targeted first — are led by women! Exemplary, principled, intelligent, qualified, outspoken, stubborn, fierce, and most importantly, women who care about people and their rights.
These are the women who inspired me ten years ago when I was choosing my professional path — and now, it turns out they have superpowers.
Do you even realize who you’re up against?”

Based on a judge’s ruling, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has arrested Nino Datashvili on charges of assaulting a public official while performing their official duties. Datashvili slapped a court bailiff in the face inside the courthouse.

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Nino Datashvili was dragged — in the literal sense of the word. There’s a video where she’s screaming: “It hurts.” She was subjected to violence, and now she’s been arrested. For defending herself (and yes, it is self-defense when you’re being dragged away by brutes and resist the physical pain), she now faces 4 to 7 years in prison.

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Nino Datashvili’s letter from her cell, following her arrest:

“Look up teachers and others who were arrested and repressed during Soviet-era Georgia — and spread their stories.
Freedom for the regime’s prisoners.
No one dare worry — continue the fight, for me and in my place.
My arrest took place on June 20 to demoralize the protest.
Please, less fuss — more protest.
Today, everyone to Rustaveli.”

Well, maybe I should feel insulted or humiliated… but honestly, I haven’t felt either of those things. And it’s been over two weeks now. On the contrary, I feel strong and dignified. The only thing that dims that feeling a little is not knowing what I’ll do tomorrow — or what awaits me.

Yes, for those who don’t know, I was dismissed from my job starting August 1 — or, well, I’m being dismissed. However it’s worded.

Since 1997, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been my workplace — in various missions, always with one goal. And now, I’ve been spectacularly punished for expressing and reaffirming that goal out loud.

So, while they try to figure out whether I’m a Deep State loyalist, a member of the global war party, or some other foreign-controlled figure, I’ll share the vision of my one-woman political party:

Wherever I’ve been — whether with Georgians abroad or at home — every time we talk, we all agree on one thing: how incredible Switzerland is. How similar our stunning nature is. And how possible it is to build such a free country for ourselves too.

Yes, it’s absolutely possible — but it cannot be achieved by a punished, submissive, resentful, violent, fearful, oppressed, or indifferent people. To become that kind of society and state requires a different energy: positive, joyful, brave, and free. So, let’s wait for better times — with faith in God.”**

— writes Mariam Maisaia on social media

Evgenia asks me, “Mom, could you be arrested too?!”
I’ve avoided the question several times, but let’s be honest — she’s 13, and she understands everything. She herself has been a target of persecution under this Russian-style regime. She knows that nothing is impossible. I try to simplify things.

So now we sit together and play a role-playing game. I pretend to be a journalist she doesn’t know, and she speaks to me about her mother’s imprisonment.
She says, ‘I’ll tell my mom she can count on me — I won’t break.’”