Tamaz Elizbarashvili, Prominent Dog Shelter Owner, Detained During Home Search

Police detained Tamaz Elizbarashvili, a prominent government-critical animal rights defender and dog shelter owner, on administrative charges of police disobedience as police searched his house as part of a separate probe in the evening hours of September 1.

The Interior Ministry told Civil.ge that Elizbarashvili was detained on charges of police disobedience. The administrative detention, however, came after police first stopped and searched him in a car in Tbilisi and later searched his home as part of a probe into allegations of “threat” and the purchase and possession of firearms.

While police have yet to reveal more details, the probe reportedly follows Elizbarashvili’s conflict with a group of five to eight people two days earlier, with his family and lawyer suggesting the group “likely” included the employees of pro-government Imedi TV channel.

According to his wife, Elizbarashvili was confronted by five men in Restaurant “Skhva” in Tbilisi on August 30, with the men allegedly saying they were working for Imedi. The wife said they were asking Elizbarashvili to apologize for his social media posts about Russia and pro-Russians.

In a post published on the Facebook page of Elizbarashvili’s dog shelter on August 31, Elizbarashvili addressed “employees of TV Imedi,” telling them that they had “really crossed the line” with him the previous night at Restaurant “Skhva”, and giving them until the end of the day to apologize.

In a subsequent livestream, Elizbarashvili said that around eight people who identified themselves as “TV Imedi employees” verbally insulted him at the restaurant, where he regularly visits to look after three dogs housed there.

According to Elizbarashvili, the group blocked his way near the restroom and demanded that he apologize for his social media posts, telling him, “We don’t like you because you support Ukraine and you don’t like Russians.” He said he refused to apologize, forced his way through the corridor, and told them he would take his wife home and return shortly in half an hour.

Elizbarashvili said that when he returned to the restaurant around 25 minutes later, the men had already left. He said they “ran toward the car like rabbits.”

Elizbarashvili said that each of the men should apologize to him, warning: “If you don’t apologize, I will find you one by one, make you kneel and [f…] you in the mouth.” He said the restaurant had refused to provide him with their contact information. Elizbarashvili then made his own phone number public, saying he expected them to apologize by the end of the day, “otherwise it will be too late.”

Following Elizbarashvili’s home search, Elizbarashvili’s lawyer, Ia Siranashvili, accused police of physical violence, alleging that she was not allowed to attend the search and that “five police officers” kicked her. The Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the allegation on September 2.

Police are also reportedly searching Elizbarashvili’s dog shelter.

Last updated on September 2, 13:05.