The Fight for a Good Name

The lawsuit reveals a bleak picture of contemporary online smear campaigns. Prominent publicists and political operatives, including Itay Ben-Dan, Boaz Appelbaum, Ami Dror, Ilan Shiloah, and Lior Horev, turned social media into an arena for circulating false accusations. In their posts, Mirilashvili is portrayed alternately as “Putin’s friend,” “Prigozhin’s partner,” or a “mafia figure.”

One example stands out: on August 1, 2023, Itay Ben-Dan claimed that “the Mirilashvili family is essentially a branch of Georgian criminal organizations,” comparing them to an Italian syndicate and embellishing his post with lurid details of supposed crimes. In another instance, Boaz Appelbaum referred to Mirilashvili as “a convicted accomplice to murder” in a May 14, 2023 post, ignoring the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling that the Russian trial against him was fundamentally flawed and unjust.

Such posts do not remain isolated. They are amplified, shared, and commented on by thousands, creating a snowball effect of disinformation. As the court documents note, “information on social networks can remain forever,” and without editorial oversight or adherence to journalistic ethics, falsehoods gain a dangerous permanence.

The Mirilashvili case shows how decades of reputation-building can be undone by a handful of viral posts. A philanthropist who supports Yad Vashem, Tel Aviv University, and water projects in impoverished regions is suddenly recast as a criminal character.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress has long championed democratic values, human rights, and freedom of speech. We understand the essential role of free expression in democratic life. But for this very reason, we cannot remain silent when free speech is weaponized to justify campaigns of targeted defamation.

Criticism is vital to democracy – it is its lifeblood. Defamation, however, corrodes trust. When respected public figures spread systematic falsehoods, they damage not only an individual but the very fabric of our information ecosystem.

This case is not only about one man’s dignity. Michael Mirilashvili’s good name is not a private asset alone. As President of one of the world’s leading Jewish organizations, a man who has devoted decades to serving the Jewish people, he embodies values our Congress holds dear.

When his reputation is attacked with lies, the credibility of the institutions he leads is also undermined. This sets a dangerous precedent: can any blogger or pundit, under the guise of “free speech,” destroy the reputation of a public figure without consequence?

We live in a time when anyone can become a publisher and any post can reach millions within hours. This democratization of information brings benefits, but also unprecedented risks. As one landmark court ruling observed, “damage to a person’s good name through defamatory publications on social networks can be of particular severity” because of the ease and reach of digital communication.

In Mirilashvili’s case, the posts in question are not spontaneous public reactions but a coordinated effort by influential figures, designed to inflict maximum harm.

By filing this lawsuit, Mirilashvili is defending not only his honor but a principle: democracy rests not only on freedom but also on responsibility. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, “A good name is better than precious oil.” In Jewish tradition, reputation has always been among a person’s most valued possessions.

This legal action is a reminder that words have consequences. In a democracy, a lifetime of philanthropy and communal service cannot be undone by reckless falsehoods masquerading as “opinion.”

We do not advocate restricting speech or silencing critics. On the contrary, true freedom of expression can exist only where accountability for one’s words is upheld. Journalists and public commentators have both the right and the duty to scrutinize public figures, but such scrutiny must rest on fact, not fiction.

The accusations against Mirilashvili, linking him to organized crime and fabricated offenses, are not criticism. They are character assassination. This lawsuit is not an act of vanity, nor a partisan maneuver. It is a stand for the principle that in a democracy, a person’s reputation cannot be destroyed without evidence, regardless of who launches the attack.

I have known Michael Mirilashvili for many years. In business, in public events, and in private settings, I have been struck by his calm confidence, respect for others, and inner discipline. I have seen such smear campaigns break people. This is not the case here. Despite the ongoing war and national trauma since October 7, Mirilashvili remained silent for months, postponing legal action. But lies do not fade away on their own; they spread unless confronted.

Mirilashvili rightly believes this campaign is not only about him. It also targets his son, Yitzhak, owner of Israel’s TV Channel 14. Attacks on the channel have turned into attacks on the father. The fact that Mirilashvili has no involvement with the station does not interest the “keyboard warriors”, nor do facts in general.

Ultimately, this case concerns us all. In an age when falsehood spreads faster than truth and reputations can be destroyed with a few clicks, defending a good name is not just a private battle—it is a defense of the very foundations of civilized society.

I sincerely hope that the truth will be clarified in court and presented to the public in the most transparent way possible.