The lawyer representing Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili has sent an appeal to the country’s leading legal body urging them to look at a series of social media posts being written about him.
Irma Chkadua has accused non-government organizations of trying to profit from the legal case for their own gain regarless of if the tennis star is guilty or not. Last year Basilashvili was arrested over allegations of physical abuse against his former wife Neka Dorokashvili. An allegation he has denied but the legal process is still ongoing.
The world No.36, who defeated Roger Federer en route to winning the Doha Open last week, has been allowed to play on the Tour throughout the case. Something Chkadua argues is right as he hasn’t been found of any wrongdoing so far in the legal dispute.
“No single court has yet found Basilashvili guilty of domestic violence,” she said in an address to the Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia.
“Unfortunately, these non-governmental organizations are seeking to use the situation to their advantage by getting grants.’
“I urge the public defender to protect her country’s most successful sportsman Basilashvili, whose presumption of innocence has been breached and who has repeatedly been subjected to hate speech.”
Following his win in Doha, Basilashvili paid tribute to his son who he describes as ‘the most precious person’ which he misses a lot. Although he came under fire shortly after that speech by his ex-wife’s lawyer who says he has not paid any maintenance money for the past 18 months.
“I would not have written this if not for Basilashvili’s outrageous words about his son. He has not paid alimony for her son for a year and a half. Moreover, he deprives his son of a house through the court,” lawyer Ana Abashidze is reported to have written on social media.
Dorokashvili says she is unsure as to why the tennis star allegedly was abusive to her. However, a new dynamic to the incident has come to light. Georgian news agency Prime Time has claimed they have ‘exclusive information’ which states that Dorokashvili actually became abusive when she heard that Basilashvili was in love with somebody else. The other woman in question is Charlotte Helena who was seen watching her boyfriend in Doha (see video below). Prime Time claims she blames the break-up of their marriage on Basilashvili’s mother.
Basilashvili is playing in the Dubai Tennis Championships this week and will take on 15th seed Taylor Fritz in his opening match.
