There is great chaos in Georgia. The discussion and subsequent adoption of the draft controversial law on “agents of foreign influence” caused a huge storm of resentment, which, among other things, is fully manifested in the center of most cities. The legislation is strikingly reminiscent of the measures by which the Putin regime in Russia gradually eliminated all its critics. they don’t like it and decided to do something about it.
Among the thousands of protesters was the Georgian Oktagon MMA featherweight champion Maté Sanikidze, who is also among several dozen people who were detained. “Maté was arrested last night for demonstrating against Russian laws and Russian policy in Georgia. This guy is a hero of his people in Georgia and I am proud that he is my friend who always stands with the people,” wrote the wrestler’s translator Giorgi Kokiashvili on social networks. “Guys like him are the future of Georgia.”
My man Mate Sanikidze arrested last night at the demonstration agianst the Russian laws and Russian politics in Georgia!
This guy is a hero of his people in Georgia and I’m proud that he is my friend who always stands with the people! 🇬🇪
Guys like him are the future of Georgia! pic.twitter.com/Fjq7RtVXf9
— Giorgi Kokiashvili 🇬🇪 ✊ 🇺🇦 (@iHeartGeorgius1) March 8, 2023
The police detained the Georgian champion on Rustaveli Avenue, after which he was taken to Bakuriani. He expressed his solidarity with an unequivocal protest. “I’d rather fight in Europe for free than in Russia for a billion,” said the 24-year-old wrestler, who started fighting sports at the age of 15. The police detained 66 protesters who face punishment for rioting and disobeying police instructions, the Ministry of the Interior said.
The Oktagon MMA organization also stands behind the promising fighter. “We have known about the situation since morning, we had the first information about what was happening around five o’clock,” said one of the co-owners of the organization Pavol Neruda. “We are in contact with his wife, team and management and we will, with regard to our ability to try to help as much as possible.”
The largest domestic association will also support the wrestler’s family financially. “We have agreed that we will not leave Maté’s wife Mariam or little Nathaniel alone and we will also support them financially. I believe that soon we will have more information and as soon as he is released, we will contact Maté and offer him a helping hand in all areas,” reads the statement of Oktagon MMA.
The whole of the OKTAGON MMA team is behind the champion Mate Sanikidze.
“We’ve known about the situation since the morning. We have received the first information about what is going on around five o’clock morning,” said one of the co-owners of the organization Pavol Neruda. pic.twitter.com/M8JYrIbKTx
— OCTAGON MMA (@OktagonOfficial) March 8, 2023
“The whole OKTAGON team is behind him. It is necessary to support people who are fighting for the right cause and to be together in the same boat. Maté Sanikidze represents values that are also our own and therefore deserves help and support from us and our fans.” His future opponent Losene Keita, with whom he argued loudly at Friday’s Oktagon TIME press conference, also expressed his support for his rival. The Belgian champion on He shared the slogan “Free Sanikidze” on Instagram.
