On 19 July, parents of persons detained during protest rallies travelled by train to Batumi to distribute newspapers. Before departure, they reported that the parents travelling to Batumi had been stopped because they were carrying banners and photos of their detained children.

Patrol police were called to the scene. According to reports, the railway administration cited the presence of banners as the reason for calling the police. As a result, the Tbilisi-Batumi train departed approximately 20 minutes late.

“We are heading to Adjara. The train left 20 minutes late because the railway called the patrol police, saying they should make us remove the banners. Unbelievable nonsense! We continue the fight. They may stop the train, but they cannot stop the parents and family members of prisoners of conscience!” Teona Chalidze wrote on social media.

According to Chalidze, no one has the right to prohibit parents from carrying photos of their detained children. “A train is public transport, and everyone has the right to freedom of movement,” stated Chalidze, who was on the train together with the parents.

Later, according to The Ajara Times, in Batumi, on the territory of the so-called “Khopa” market, where parents of persons detained during various protest rallies were holding an information meeting, several individuals verbally confronted them. At the time, the parents were distributing informational newspapers to citizens and speaking with them about the detainees’ cases.