Belarusian woman, owner of a restaurant in Batumi, found herself at the center of a scandal involving dogs
Citizens accuse Alesia Zusko, owner of the Sea View Club restaurant, of aggression towards stray dogs and possible involvement in the poisoning of a dog named Yanot. The Belarusian woman herself denies everything, and people are gathering for a protest.
The death of Yanot and a video that led to police involvement
The outrage began with the story of a dog named Yanot, who lived in the New Boulevard area of Batumi and was known to local volunteers.
Animal rights activists believe that on August 13, Yanot died of poisoning. A version appeared on social media that the owner of the Sea View Club restaurant, Belarusian Alesia Zusko, might have been involved in his death. Some posts claimed that she had previously threatened to poison stray dogs and allegedly told employees that the poison she had laid out "finally worked."
A video began circulating on Georgian and Russian-speaking public channels, showing a woman approaching a stray dog, winding up, and throwing an object resembling a stone in its direction. The authors of the publications claim that the woman in the recording is Alesia Zusko.
Other videos of conflicts with dogs, also linked to the owner of Sea View, are appearing on social media.
The story has already become the subject of a criminal investigation: in Georgia, a case was opened for animal cruelty or other forms of violence.
In a conversation with the Georgian publication Batumelebi, Zusko confirmed that it was indeed her in the video, but stated that the recording was edited and did not show the full backstory. According to her version, the video was filmed about four years ago. Zusko claims that on that day she came to the restaurant with a six-month-old child in her arms, and about 15-17 dogs gathered near the entrance, barking and moving towards her. She allegedly first took the crying child away, and then began to chase the animals away. According to Zusko, she only picked up the stone to scare the dog and did not hit it.
Sea View: Yanot was hit by an electric car
After the scandal erupted, Sea View published an official response. The restaurant stated that Batumi public channels spread "outright lies" without waiting for any expertise.
"To date, there is not a single official document — a veterinarian's conclusion, an expert examination, a video, or a decision by state bodies — that would confirm these accusations."
According to the version of Sea View, Yanot's death was a "tragic accident involving an electric car." The restaurant claims that there is another victim — a person, and there was no poisoning.
"Sea View and the owner of the establishment have no connection to electric cars, dog catching, or poison. We are a pet-friendly restaurant and have been feeding this city for four years," the statement says.
At the same time, the company states that it is ready for any inspection and can provide access to surveillance cameras, the kitchen, and warehouses. The management is collecting materials to appeal to law enforcement agencies and protect its business reputation.
According to the restaurant, due to mass complaints, its Instagram was blocked, employees and the owner began receiving threats, and the business is suffering losses.
And indeed, users on various platforms are massively giving the restaurant minimal ratings, leaving angry comments, and urging others not to visit the establishment. A significant portion of the new reviews concerns accusations of animal cruelty.
In a post, which the Telegram channel "Batumchik" presents as the position of the owner of Sea View, it is claimed that the current wave of accusations is based on the story of a woman with whom the restaurant had a conflict several years ago. According to Zusko's version, this woman fed dogs directly near the entrance to the restaurant. The owner claims that employees asked to move the feeding spot because the dogs were lying near the entrance, getting onto sofas, and allegedly biting guests if they accidentally stepped on them. Complaints after this, according to her, were filed with the administration.
"At the same time, not a single dog has ever been harmed by us, let alone touched," she wrote.
She also announced her intention to contact the police regarding the dissemination of what she considers false information, slander, and insults.
"Nasha Niva" contacted the restaurant for comment, but they have not yet responded to our request.
"Stun guns and water pistols were behind the bar counter"
We spoke with a former Sea View employee. According to him, the management chased away stray dogs. However, they treated visitors' pets calmly.
— When people came with their pets, there were no problems. But they fought with stray dogs because, allegedly, not all guests liked them walking around there, — says the interlocutor.
According to him, devices for scaring away animals were constantly kept behind the bar counter:
— Stun guns, water pistols, and other devices were always there.
From animal protection — to demands for reprisal
The conflict surrounding dogs existed long before Yanot's death. Already in visitor reviews from 2023, there were complaints that a woman, whom the authors called the owner of Sea View, chased away dogs and doused them with water. The water, according to the author of the review, also got on visitors who were sitting nearby.
In July 2025, an anonymous subscriber contacted the Telegram channel "Batumchik". She claimed that the owner of Sea View "incites some Georgians" against dogs near the neighboring Bike to Me:
"They walk around, deliberately provoking them with ultrasound, standing and shouting for the dogs to be killed, removed."
Later, reviews began to include claims of poisoning threats and the use of rat poison.
Discussion of the story quickly went beyond the issue of dog treatment. In Georgian comments, people began demanding the restaurant be closed or even vandalized, that Zusko and her husband be deported, and banned from entering the country.
On August 30, at 6 PM, animal rights activists plan to gather near Sea View. The organizers call the event an action in defense of dogs and announce that journalists have been invited.
Who is Alesia Zusko
Alesia Zusko is a 42-year-old Belarusian woman who has been developing restaurant and entertainment businesses in Batumi for several years.
Her business history began long before moving to Georgia, back in Minsk.
At least since 2017, Alesia Berzhanina (Zusko) was associated with Minsk's Private House — a bar on Zybitskaya Street. On her page, Zusko regularly advertised Private House, posed for it in bold images, and presented the club as part of her own lifestyle — with night parties and ostentatious luxury.
Private House opened in 2013, when Zybitskaya had not yet turned into Minsk's main party street. Initially, it operated as a club of private cinemas, and when there were too many visitors, one cinema hall was demolished and a second bar was made instead. Then a terrace appeared, and the focus shifted from film screenings to night parties.
Legally, Private House was connected with the private commercial unitary enterprise "MamaMia", registered in October 2012 at the same address — Zybitskaya, 9.
The last publications of Minsk's Private House date back to October 2024. By that time, the "MamaMia" company already had problems. In April 2024, a decision was made to liquidate it, and later bankruptcy proceedings began. On May 28, 2026, the company was finally excluded from the Belarusian state register.
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