Judge Tornike Kochkian of the Tbilisi City Court found two civil activists, Mariam Chkhaidze and Lali Kekua, liable for administrative offences related to the alleged blocking of a roadway. Their cases were examined jointly. Mariam Chkhaidze was subjected to two days of administrative detention, while Lali Kekua was subjected to three days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) alleged that both activists had blocked a roadway on Rustaveli Avenue during the “Saturday March” held on 7 February 2026.

Blocking a roadway became a punishable offence following the adoption of restrictive legislative amendments by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. This conduct is prohibited under Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Subsequently, the scope of the same provision was expanded to include standing on the sidewalk, on the basis of which participants in demonstrations are also being held administratively liable. A violation of this provision entails administrative detention for up to 15 days (and up to 20 days for an organizer). Administrative detention does not apply to pregnant women, mothers with children under the age of 12, persons under the age of 18, or persons with pronounced or significant disabilities. Instead, they are subject to a fine of 5,000 GEL, or 15,000 GEL if the person is an organizer. Repeated commission of the same act entails criminal liability.