Renowned Human Rights Advocate Lasha Janibegashvili left  the Country Following Death Threats and State Persecution From Georgian bar assoctiation too 

April  28 , 2025

 The "Masked Threat" and Physical Intimidation

Janibegashvili recounted a chilling encounter following a recent protest. He was approached by a masked law enforcement officer who addressed him by name, pulled him aside, and issued a direct threat:

"You see how they planted drugs on the doctor and arrested him? You see what happened to the journalist? You see we suspended your license just for writing your opinion? We are sending you signals—your time is running out. You will be arrested, you'll be forced to watch violence against your family, and you'll be killed either inside prison or outside. You're a good person, we pity you, so we are warning you."

Janibegashvili noted that the authorities track IP addresses and "hunt" individuals with large audiences who understand the law. After years of ignoring warnings from acquaintances, he realized that his safety was no longer a matter of chance. "Every time I left my house, it felt like walking on the edge of a knife. There was a constant threat of provocation," he stated.

A Pattern of Professional and Legal Sabotage

The persecution reached a peak in 2024, just five days after the contested elections. The Georgian Bar Association, acting as an instrument of the government, suspended Janibegashvili's law license.

• Fabricated Ethics Charges: Despite Janibegashvili’s unblemished reputation, the Association’s Ethics Commission—led by Konstantine Gelashvili (a close associate of Bar Chairman David Asatiani)—reportedly used fabricated evidence, including unauthenticated Facebook posts and videos, to build a case against him.

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The Fight Against Corporate and State "Mafias"

Janibegashvili’s troubles are believed to stem from his uncompromising defense of ordinary citizens against powerful entities. He successfully fought and inflicted financial losses on influential companies such as Modus, HeidelbergCement, Rustavi Azot, and the Anagi construction company—all of which reportedly have high-ranking officials behind them.

Furthermore, he successfully blocked evictions and property seizures by various banks and microfinance organizations, making him a target for both corporate and state actors.

Marginalization by the State

Janibegashvili’s attempts to seek justice within Georgia have been systematically ignored:

• The Prosecution: Over a hundred complaints regarding illegal pressure remain uninvestigated.

• The Public Defender: Despite having the evidence, the Ombudsman's office officially informed him, "I can do nothing."

• The Government: Hundreds of appeals to the Prime Minister, Prosecutor General, and Parliament went unanswered.

International Pursuit of Justice

Faced with what he describes as "a collapsed country where career destruction is just one phone call away," Janibegashvili has taken his battle to the international stage. He has filed four cases at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the Georgian government and the Bar Association.

He stated that he chose to flee rather than become a victim of a "fabricated case" orchestrated by "Magnitsky-listed judges and agent-provocateurs."

Summary of Claims and Ongoing Legal Actions

• Constitutional Court: Janibegashvili has active lawsuits (1424 and 1490) challenging the constitutionality of forced membership in the Bar Association.

• Defamation Suits: He has sued three major TV channels for 10 million GEL in damages following smear campaigns. Despite filing in 2021, only one hearing has been held by 2025.

• Physical Attacks: Janibegashvili reports having survived 12 life-threatening attacks since 2019, none of which have been properly investigated.

Lasha Janibegashvili remains committed to his human rights work from abroad, vowing to hold the "corrupt officials and deceptive members of the Bar Association" accountable through international mechanisms.

See also EU Grant Misappropriation and Professional Persecution: The Case of the Georgian Bar Association