Lia Mukhashavria lawyer  and the Chairperson and founding member of Human Rights Priority, an NGO which provides legal assistance to victims of human rights violations,  was fined by the Tbilisi City Court in Georgia for “minor hooliganism” and acts of harassment.  

The court found that Lia Mukhashavria was in breach of Article 166 of the Administrative Code of Georgia. Article 166 of the Administrative Code of Georgia defines “minor hooliganism” as using foul language, cursing, insulting citizens and similar activities in a public place. The finding was based upon the allegations of Manana Sosebashvili, who accused Lia Mukhashavria of harassing her while carrying out her professional duties and of representing her friends in a private dispute. The allegations of harassment were reported by the Patrol Police officers, who themselves allegedly witnessed but ignored reports of harassment of Lia Mukhashavria by Manana Sosebashvili herself. Lia Mukhashavria has announced her intention to appeal against the decision.

It is believed that the case against Lia Mukhashavria is related to her work in defending human rights in Georgia, particularly by representing victims of human rights abuses in cases against the state authorities. For example, the Judge in the case of 11 October, Judge Tina Shaverdashvili, has known Lia Mukhashavria personally for many years, and last year presided over a case in which Lia Mukhashavria represented more than sixty Tbilisi State University professors. Lia Mukhashavria is particularly well known for her work in 2004 representing unlawfully imprisoned former mayor Tengiz Asanidze in Asanidze v Georgia, the first case to be considered against Georgia at the European Court of Human Rights.

In particular, Lia Mukhashavria has more recently adopted a strategic litigation approach in relation to human rights violations suffered by civilians during the August 2008 war. This aims to exhaust all domestic legal remedies for victims rather than submitting applications directly to the European Court of Human Rights as other organisations in Georgia have done. This has reportedly been deemed un-patriotic by the authorities.

Front Line believes that the case against Lia Mukhashavria is directly related to her work in the defence of human rights, in particular the rights of victims of human rights abuses. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Lia Mukhashavria.

Front Line calls on the Georgian authorities to:

1. Immediately drop all charges against Lia Mukhashavria as it is believed that these measures have been taken against them solely on account of their legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights;

2. Ensure the physical and psychological integrity of Lia Mukhashavria;

3. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Georgia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

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