Levan Machavariani on Vakho Sanaia’s arrest: Liability for offensive posts is not a restriction on freedom of speech

According to Georgian Dream MP Levan Machavariani, Vakho Sanaia’s arrest was not due to a Facebook post and the matter concerns the enforcement of liability imposed for offensive posts.

According to him, it is easy for any person to distinguish where the line is drawn between criticism and personal insults.

“It is very easy for any healthy person to draw the line between what can be joked about and what cannot; what can be discussed, criticized, and when criticism turns into personal insults and humiliation. This does not require the dictates of any agency or a court process,” Machavariani said.

According to him, presenting offensive statements as freedom of speech and expression is wrong and such a practice is not permissible in European countries.

According to the MP, a new department for combating hate speech was created for this very purpose, which, according to him, will first hold violators accountable with a fine, and in case of non-payment of the fine, with other sanctions provided for by law.

According to Machavariani, Vakho Sanaia was not sentenced to 14 days of administrative detention for a single Facebook post.

“Mr. Sanaia, who was sent to a penitentiary for 14 days, allegedly for a Facebook post. He was not sent. He was sent for offensive posts. He did all this repeatedly, did not pay a single fine, nor the second, and when he behaves so irresponsibly, no one should be surprised that he may have to go to a penitentiary,” said Levan Machavariani.