Civil activist Mariam Melikishvili was subjected to 2 days of administrative detention for standing on a pavement. The decision was delivered by Judge Manuchar Tsatsua. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that, on 18 December 2025, Melikishvili obstructed pedestrian movement on the pavement.
On 31 March, civic activist Mariam Melikishvili reported a on social media that, in the context of serving a 2-day administrative detention imposed on 27 March, she was requested to fully undress prior to her placement in a temporary detention facility. According to her account, following her transfer from the courtroom to a temporary holding cell, a female police officer instructed her to fully undress. The activist further stated that she was informed that, in case of refusal, the same procedure would be carried out by male officers upon her transfer to another facility. Despite this, she refused to comply with the request.
It is noteworthy that multiple detainees have reported similar practices. The Public Defender of Georgia has stated that, during full-body searches, individuals should not be required to undress different parts of their body simultaneously, and that such practices may amount to degrading and humiliating treatment.On 5 February 2025, the Public Defender filed a constitutional complaint before the Constitutional Court of Georgia, challenging the regulations governing penitentiary institutions that required detainees to fully undress during searches. Subsequently, on 10 June 2025, amendments were introduced by order of the Minister of Justice, abolishing the requirement for detainees to fully undress simultaneously during such procedures.
Administrative proceedings against citizens in relation to sidewalk protests commenced following legislative amendments adopted by Georgian Dream on 12 December 2025. The amendments were adopted following accelerated parliamentary consideration over a three-day period. As a result of these amendments, protest activity on sidewalks was, in effect, also prohibited. For a first violation, the legislation provides for administrative detention for a period of up to 15 days (up to 20 days in the case of an organizer), while a repeated violation may result in the imposition of criminal liability. According to the assessment of Transparency International Georgia, “the detention of an individual for standing on a sidewalk, even under administrative procedure, let alone the imposition of criminal punishment cannot withstand any criticism when assessed against the standards of freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and by international human rights instruments.”
