– Let me finish the question: who do you represent when you speak? You’re not recognized by any democratic state. From time to time, you get congratulations and praise — mostly from a drunk Medvedev or Dugin… Whose name are you speaking in right now? Let me finish the question, and you remember the questions too… Next question…

– Let’s go one at a time… What matters to me is that you acknowledged me, because today you officially came to the Government Administration building.

– This building doesn’t belong to you. I entered as someone coming to an institution. If you consider asking you a question as “recognition”—then so be it. You represent a Russian regime and use captured institutions. Who else am I supposed to ask?

– In a debate with a representative of Kezerashvili’s television… Kezerashvili has been proven to have looted the army. That’s one. As for business racketeering—I personally have information…

– With all due respect, your party has had power for 13 years. Please, let’s drop this worn-out rhetoric. Let’s not bore our viewers. You promised me… I’ll continue asking questions—I still don’t know who you represent, whose name you speak in.

– Don’t speak with such arrogance… You represent Kezerashvili, that’s what matters.

– Whose name are you speaking in? I’m not ashamed of who I represent—I represent Formula TV. Who do you represent?

– I speak in the name of the Georgian people.

– Which Georgian people? The ones you’re maiming in the streets? Let me ask you this: wasn’t your promise peace?

– One moment—I speak in the name of 1,110,000 voters. That’s one. Second, regarding peace—we must distinguish between terms. That’s the first thing. We saved this country from war.

– And what’s happening in the streets now—what is that, if not war? Who gives the order to mutilate young people? Is that an order from Russia, from Bidzina Ivanishvili, or his own initiative? Also, I’d like to know—do you get paid for betraying your homeland, or is that voluntary? I’m asking you as a citizen—when Guram Rogava was brutally beaten, who gave that order? Who committed that crime, and why hasn’t it been investigated?

– Send my regards to Kezerashvili…

– Send my regards to Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Russian oligarchs. Who gave the order to maim young people and journalists? Was it Ivanishvili, was it a Russian order, or your own initiative? Answer me…

– I understand your emotions…

– You understand no one’s emotions. I’m asking you—answer the specific question.

– Fine. It’s shameful.

– You know what’s shameful? Beating people in the streets. It’s shameful when people are deliberately hit in the head. Hospitals are overflowing. Detention centers are full. All opposition parties are being raided. What does that mean? Who gave the order?

– You should be ashamed…

– I’m not ashamed of anything. I’m asking you: what price did you sell your homeland for? Or are you doing it for free?

– You’re selling the homeland for Kezerashvili’s money…

– I’m a journalist and I only get paid for my work. We’ve already addressed the Kezerashvili issue—you had 13 years to act if you had something to say. Who is giving you orders now?

– You’re taking dirty money from Kezerashvili…

– You want to be seen as legitimate, right? You believe you are legitimate. So tell me—who institutionally gives the orders to mutilate young people? Are they coming from Russia, or are they homegrown decisions?

– We won’t let a “Nazi-Maidan” happen…

– No one wants a Nazi-Maidan. You’re killing people in the streets. What do you want, to drive someone to death?

– You wanted debates, right? Come to our channel for a debate.

– Why would I go to Kezerashvili’s channel? Let’s debate anywhere you want.

– You mean the channel where Vasil Maghlaperidze, a political party member, became director? Or the ones you’ve turned into propaganda tools?

– Why are you talking to me from the war party?

– Which war? The one you’re waging in the streets against young people?

– Don’t get nervous.

– I’m not nervous. And if I am, do you know why?

– You’re shaking…

– Do you know why I’m upset? Because my colleagues have been beaten.

– Don’t shake…

– Young people…

– My colleagues, the police, have been beaten because of your shameful actions—because of the United National Movement and the “Nazi-Maidan.” You are the disgrace… Don’t shake.

– I’m the disgrace? The public has already passed judgment on you… Russian. Laugh all you want…
(Kobakhidze leaves the briefing. Then returns.)

– You’re all pathetic.

– You’re pathetic. Am I pathetic? Once the media thought you were a decent person…

You have a duty to the people. You have a duty before the law. Don’t think that anyone will go unpunished. We have a question: where is the police? We want to know—those masked individuals who brutally assault our children every evening—are they you?

–

When the Russian army enters here and smashes your heads and jaws, then we’ll see…

–

On April 9, the police stood with the people… Today, they should be by our side—not kicking us in the face.

–

We’re not here for jokes—every day, we’re being beaten.

–

The hands of the police are stained with the blood of our children… That’s why I came—to say this. They beat them mercilessly and sacrifice them. Their faces may be covered, but they know exactly who they are—and not a single one has been held accountable.

–

We demand that you uphold the law and protect the citizens of Georgia. That is your duty. When you graduated from the academy, you took an oath—before you even put on that uniform—that you would protect the citizens of Georgia from violence. Today, we do not see that.

You’re not even human… Look what Bidzina has turned you into… You animals, you… You dare call yourself a man? You scoundrel, you…

What was happening?

Nothing, I was at home. I’ve had two surgeries… I’m a teacher, I work right up there at the school and I can’t go out because if I fall again, if anything hits me—I’m only one month post-surgery—I won’t survive it. My three grandchildren are all out there, constantly protesting… I’ve spent my whole life fighting so that my children and my students could have a better future. May Bidzina never know peace… Death and destruction will befall him. I will live to see the day when he suffers. But he must live a long life—his loved ones must suffer too, just as he has brought my Georgia to this state. And all of them, especially these people (points at microphones of propaganda channels), you should be ashamed, child—you’re a young woman and you will be ashamed to live in this country… Your disgraceful television… Get out of here. You are not worthy of being spoken to… What? What, you don’t like insults? Everyone will be held accountable, everyone who circled 41 (the ruling party’s number on ballots) and brought my country to this. No one will escape… not even your own children.

What was happening in Zviadi’s house?

I don’t know anything… I didn’t even know. I noticed something strange with that kid a few months ago, but I didn’t know anything else… Now my children wrote me that he lives there, in apartment number eight, and I rushed out just like I was… locked the door and ran out.”

– Neighbor of political prisoner Zviad Tsetskhladze, after police entered his home