Key Takeaways:

• Giorgi Gakharia, a former Prime Minister of Georgia, suffered a broken nose and concussion after being attacked in Batumi.
• The incident is labeled a politically motivated assault by Gakharia's party, For Georgia, aimed at intimidating the opposition.
• The attack highlights the ongoing political turmoil and violence against opposition figures since the contested October elections.
• Protests in Georgia have intensified, with citizens protesting against the ruling Georgian Dream party’s actions, including freezing EU accession talks.
• The European Commission condemned the reported involvement of ruling party members in the attack, emphasizing there is no place for violence in democracy.

Former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia was hospitalized following a violent attack last Tuesday night, which occurred in the lobby of a hotel in Batumi. During the assault, which is believed to involve members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Gakharia sustained serious injuries including a broken nose and concussion, according to his doctor. A spokesperson for his party described the attack as a “brutal, coordinated group attack” intended to silence opposition voices amidst a backdrop of increasing political unrest in the nation.

Gakharia's hospitalization comes on the heels of escalating protests across Georgia that erupted after an October parliamentary election which the opposition claims was rigged by the Georgian Dream party. These protests intensified following the government's controversial decision to suspend discussions regarding European Union accession until 2028, provoking significant public unrest. On Wednesday, businesses across the country participated in a three-hour strike to display solidarity with the ongoing protests.

As protests have turned into nightly gatherings, with activists demanding reform and government accountability, the situation has been met with a heavy-handed response from law enforcement, resulting in numerous arrests and reports of violence against protesters and journalists. Human rights organizations have decried the increasing political violence and the alleged complicity of the ruling party in recent months.

In a social media post following the incident, Gakharia assured his constituents of his well-being but further condemned the political climate, stating, “This politically motivated attack is a blatant attempt to intimidate the opposition.” Echoing this sentiment, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper expressed shock at the reported involvement of politicians in the assault, declaring, “such actions have no place in a democracy.”

In response, members of the Georgian Dream party have countered claims of wrongdoing, arguing that evidence from the incident video suggests Gakharia instigated the conflict. Amid ongoing tensions, rights advocates have called for an immediate investigation into the identities of Gakharia's assailants.

The ongoing turmoil and violence against political dissidents prompt concern from international observers. The UK's ambassador to Georgia noted that the increasing violence against politicians and arbitrary detentions of journalists is an alarming development for democracy in the region. As Gakharia navigates this crisis, his party stands steadfast alongside other opposition groups that have rejected their seats in parliament due to the perceived illegitimacy of the elections.

For more details on this developing story, refer to the original articles from Reuters and BBC.