Financial Sanctions→Use of Fines, Sanctions or Administrative Leverage for the Purpose of Economic Pressure
Activist Ruska Mchedlidze Fined GEL 3,000 for Allegedly Insulting Court Bailiffs
Tbilisi City Court Judge Tornike Kapanadze fined civic activist Ruska Mchedlidze GEL 3,000 for allegedly insulting court bailiffs. She was accused of insulting three bailiffs: Davit Matiashvili, Otar Kvinikadze, and Gocha Nanobashvili.
Indirect Pressure ("Chilling Effect")→Summoning of Activists for "Interviews" or Interrogations
Police Officers Appeared at Giorgi Akhobadze’s Residence and Summoned Him for Questioning as a Witness in an Ongoing Criminal Investigation
According to civic activist Giorgi Akhobadze, police officers visited his home and summoned him for questioning as a witness in an ongoing investigation into alleged threats. Akhobadze says law enforcement officers have not provided him with details of the case.
Activist Giorgi Kirvalidze Detained Again Immediately after Serving Administrative Detention
Civic activist and MMA fighter Giorgi Kirvalidze was detained again immediately upon his release from the Gurjaani Temporary Detention Isolator, after serving seven days of administrative detention. According to available information, law enforcement officers handcuffed Kirvalidze as he was leaving the facility and informed him that he was being detained on criminal charges for allegedly insulting a judge.
Restriction of Freedom of Assembly and Expression→Forced Change of Location, Time or Form of Protest
Police Prevented Protesters from Holding a March near the Georgian Dream Office
Citizens held a protest under the slogan “Georgia Against Ivanishvili” outside the Georgian Dream headquarters while a meeting of the parliamentary majority was taking place inside.
Financial Sanctions→Use of Fines, Sanctions or Administrative Leverage for the Purpose of Economic Pressure
Civic Activist Duta Javakhishvili Fined GEL 5,000 for Releasing Colored Smoke during a Protest
Tbilisi City Court Judge Koba Chagunava fined civic activist Duta Javakhishvili, a person with a disability, GEL 5,000 for releasing colored smoke during a protest on May 26.
Penitentiary System (Pre-trial Detention Center, Prison)
Persecution Due to Civil Activism
Incident Type:
Indirect Pressure ("Chilling Effect")
Prisoner of Conscience Rezo Kiknadze Says Prison Administration Restricted His Communication with Family Members
According to Rezo Kiknadze, a prisoner of conscience who participated in protest rallies, he can no longer call his mother from the penitentiary institution because the prison administration has prohibited him from doing so.
Comedian Davit Rostomashvili Is Suing Activist Gota Chanturia in Court
Civic activist Gota Chanturia writes on social media that comedian Davit Rostomashvili is suing him for defamation in Zestaponi Court. The comedian is disputing the activist’s use of the word “loan shark” in reference to him.
Intimidation, Threats and Discreditation→Verbal Threats or Pressure
Physical Violence and Ill-treatment
Activist Sergey Kancheli Became a Victim of Physical Violence, Verbal Abuse, and Threats by Police
Protest participant Sergey Kancheli says that on 27 September he became a victim of physical violence, verbal abuse, and threats by police. According to him, police officers stopped him near the Kukia Cemetery, then took him onto the cemetery grounds, where they physically assaulted him and threatened him with a firearm and a knife. The activist says he was also forced to perform an act of a sexual nature.
Penitentiary System (Pre-trial Detention Center, Prison)
Persecution Due to Civil Activism
Incident Type:
Indirect Pressure ("Chilling Effect")
GYLA Reports Interference with the Work of the Organization’s Lawyer in a Penitentiary Institution and Calls for an Investigation
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) reports interference with the work of the organization’s lawyer in a penitentiary institution. According to GYLA, lawyer Jumber Katamadze was at Rustavi No. 6 Penitentiary Institution to meet with prisoner Giorgi Davitadze. After the meeting, he was not allowed to take out the notes he had made during the meeting, was held for several hours, and was able to leave the institution only after tearing up his own notes.
