Context
The incidents documented in July 2025 continue to indicate the use of repressive legal mechanisms against civil activists, as well as incidents of physical violence. During the month, several activists detained in connection with pro-European protests were sentenced to terms of imprisonment by the courts.
In addition to convictions in criminal cases, two incidents involving physical violence and ill-treatment against musicians engaged in civic activism were documented in July. These incidents were linked to their participation in, or association with, protest-related cultural expression, including the performance of the protest song “Ole Ola.” In both cases, the victims stated that the attacks or threats against them were directly connected to this activity.
Overall, the incidents documented in July demonstrate a pattern in which criminal prosecution, deprivation of liberty, and acts of physical violence are directed against individuals who either directly participate in protest activities or are associated with protest-related cultural and public expression.
Incidents
On 3 July 2025, Judge Nino Galustashvili of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced 21-year-old Giorgi Mindadze to five years’ imprisonment. The Prosecutor’s Office charged Mindadze under Article 353¹(1) of the Criminal Code, which concerns an attack on a police officer and carries a sentence of four to seven years’ imprisonment. The prosecution alleged that Mindadze fired pyrotechnics at an employee of the Special Tasks Department (STD).
On 6 July 2025, musician, actor and television presenter Vano Tarkhnishvili was attacked and physically assaulted by unidentified individuals near his residential apartment building. The actor linked the attack to his performance of the song “Ole Ola” at a pub in Tbilisi in January 2025. Following the incident, Tarkhnishvili published a photograph showing bruising around his eye and nose.
On 8 July 2025, musician Aleksandre Kordzaia (Kordz) was attacked by unidentified individuals. According to the musician, he had been receiving threatening letters for six months prior to the attack. Kordzaia linked the assault to the protest song “Ole Ola,” for which he composed the musical arrangement. It is noteworthy that Vano Tarkhnishvili and Davit Gabunia had also been attacked in connection with performing the same song.
On 18 July 2025, Judge Jvebe Nachkebia of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Anri Kvaratskhelia to four years and six months’ imprisonment. Kvaratskhelia had been charged under Article 353¹(1) of the Criminal Code, which concerns an attack on a police officer and carries a sentence of four to seven years’ imprisonment. The Prosecutor’s Office alleged that Kvaratskhelia endangered officers of the Special Tasks Department (STD) by throwing a Molotov cocktail. However, no police officer was physically injured in the incident. Kvaratskhelia denied the charges and maintained that the case against him had been fabricated.
