Businessman Michael Mirilshvili Files Lawsuits Against Twitter Users for Defamation
Tel Aviv, Israel – Businessman Michael Mirilshvili has sent warning letters to several Twitter users for false publications that he claims defame his character. The tweets in question accuse Mirilshvili of being affiliated with Georgian criminal organizations and being connected to Livni Prigozhin and his militia, “Wagner Force.”
According to Mirilshvili’s lawyers, if it can be proven that these publications are false and defamatory, he has the right to claim 150,000 NIS for each publication without the need to prove damage. Mirilshvili has stated that any amount won will be donated to charity.
Among the recipients of the warning letters are consultant Lior Horev, advertiser Ilan Shiloh, and high-tech professional Ami Dror. Mirilshvili’s lawyers assert that these individuals are activists protesting against legal reform and mistakenly identify Mirilshvili Sr., as the owner of Channel 14, which is owned by his son.
The tweets accuse Mirilshvili of having connections with Yevgeny Prigozhin and Chaush Wagner, a close friendship with Vladimir Putin, bribery transactions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and influence over Channel 14 broadcasts. Mirilshvili’s lawyers argue that these claims are false, citing that Prigozhin worked for Mirilshvili in the 1990s but has not had any contact with him in the past 25 years. They also clarify that Mirilshvili does not know Putin personally and has no connection to Channel 14.
One of the main false allegations mentioned in the tweets is Mirilshvili’s imprisonment in Russia in 2001. However, Mirilshvili’s lawyers emphasize that no Russian court has attributed him to any criminal act, and he successfully fought against the Russian sentence at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.
Expressing his frustration, Mirilshvili said, “These lies and attacks have increased, leaving me with no choice but to fight against these keyboard criminals of all kinds.” He further stated that these false publications are damaging his reputation and hopes that his case will serve as a lesson to others who become victims of similar attacks.
Born in Georgia, Mirilshvili began his business activity in St. Petersburg after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He immigrated to Israel in 2009 and is currently the owner of Watergen, a company that manufactures devices for producing drinking water from moisture in the air. Mirilshvili is also known as the president of the ATP tennis tournament in Tel Aviv and a philanthropist who supports various organizations.
Attorneys Shlomi Weinberg and Arkady Eligolashvili, representing Michael Mirilshvili, condemn the campaign of hatred that is being conducted on social media and plan to file defamation lawsuits against those responsible. They urge advertisers to withdraw from supporting these false publications, emphasizing that freedom of speech is not freedom of contempt.
As of now, Lior Horev, Ilan Shiloh, and Ami Dror have not responded to the warning letters. The situation remains ongoing.