Civil activist Nodar Tsitsarishvili, who was detained near the Tbilisi City Assembly, has been transferred to the Gori temporary detention isolator. Tsitsarishvili was detained on 28 July at a rally held at Freedom Square, where citizens were expressing solidarity with activists detained near the City Assembly on 26 July. The rally participants were holding banners with an answer to the question posed on Tornike Toshkhua’s banner, over which police detained 10 citizens on 26 July.

Lawyer Marika Arevadze stated that the detentions of citizens in recent days are unfounded and, in reality, do not constitute administrative offences but amount to persecution for the expression of free opinion. “Over the past two days, we have actively witnessed unfounded detentions, and in reality, this is not an administrative offence, but persecution for the expression of free opinion,” Arevadze said.

According to her, placing activists and citizens detained in the context of demonstrations in temporary detention isolators for 48 hours has become a practice. Arevadze explained that if the case is not submitted to court and the detainees are not brought before the court before the expiry of the 48-hour period, they must be released immediately.