The arrest and preventive detention of Lazare Grigoriadis followed a period of threat and demonization of participants of a rally, including youth, which preceded the accusations against him. Following his arrest, the chairman of Georgian Dream made a homophobic propaganda statement
We believe that the criminal prosecution of Lazare Grigoriadis is part of the propaganda campaign of the Georgian Dream and a tool for achieving political goals. The authorities' decision to prosecute Lazare, among other things, appears to be motivated by a desire for revenge against the young people who participated in the rally.
It should be noted that as of April 1, 2023, no legal evaluation of the possible crimes committed by law enforcement officers during the March 7-8, 2023 actions had been conducted by the investigative bodies. Police officers were not identified or punished for possible crimes of inhumane and/or degrading treatment within the framework of the investigation.
