Participants in pro-European protests, Data Kashiashvili and Sopho Markozia, report that they have been notified to appear before the court on the grounds of allegedly blocking a roadway. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) alleges that both individuals committed the alleged administrative offence on 7 February 2026 during the “Saturday March.”
“Today I received a call from the court informing me that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has filed a complaint against me, alleging that on 7 February I was blocking the road. It was the Saturday March – the road was full and the sidewalk was also full. Accordingly, it was simply physically impossible for all participants in the demonstration to leave the roadway immediately. If the MIA presents the full video evidence, it will clearly show that once space became available on the sidewalk, I moved off the road. Moreover, I was urging others to do the same. The hearing has been scheduled for 18 March. We will see what decision the court makes,” Data Kashiashvili told Netgazeti.
“Earlier, the secretary of Judge Kochkian called me and informed me that a court hearing has been scheduled regarding the blocking of the road on 7 February. It is unusual — for the first time I know in advance that I will have a court hearing and will enter through the front door,” Markozia wrote on social media. Court hearings for both individuals are scheduled for 18 March.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.
