Persecution Due to Civil Activism

Another Discrediting Card against Non-Governmental Organizations Was Disseminated on a Facebook Page Affiliated with Georgian Dream

A card was disseminated on a Facebook page affiliated with Georgian Dream, in which non-governmental organizations are again referred to as “foreign-funded NGOs.” The card uses a statement by Amiran Salukvadze, in which he refers to representatives of the organizations as “hired patriots” and calls on citizens to join his Telegram channel.

The disseminated card repeats a pro-government narrative that portrays civil society organizations not as independent public actors, but as groups “funded from abroad” and acting in line with “political interests.” Such formulations can be assessed as a continuation of the ongoing discrediting campaign against non-governmental organizations.

Pro-Government Media Disseminated Discrediting Cards with Identical Content against NGOs

On 21 August, pro-government media outlets, including POSTV, Rustavi 2 and Imedi, disseminated cards with identical content targeting non-governmental organizations and their representatives.

The cards presented NGO statements in a discrediting context. In those statements, the organizations criticized the government’s rhetoric and described it as “anti-state, Kremlin-style narratives.” In a joint statement, the organizations called on citizens not to follow disinformation and discord spread by Russian propaganda. They also emphasized the need to secure the release of political prisoners, free and fair elections, democratic governance, and the protection of human rights.

The coordinated dissemination of cards with similar content can be assessed as a continuation of the ongoing discrediting campaign against civil society and the media. The use of formulations such as “agency” and “foreign-funded NGOs” aims to undermine the legitimacy of non-governmental organizations, call their public work into question, and reinforce a hostile environment toward civic activism.

In addition, a video aimed at discrediting Eka Gigauri, Executive Director of Transparency International Georgia, was also disseminated on a Facebook page affiliated with Georgian Dream. The video uses a fragment of Gigauri’s statement in which she speaks about people who, in exchange for money, engage in actions harmful to the country. The accompanying caption presents Gigauri as if she is making this assessment about herself.

Court of Appeals Dismissed Activist Zurab Menteshashvili’s Appeal

According to Jano Chkadua, the lawyer of Zurab Menteshashvili, who had been found guilty over repeated blocking of a road, the Court of Appeals delivered its decision in Zurab Menteshashvili’s case without an oral hearing and dismissed the defence’s appeal. “Deciding the case without an oral hearing directly violates the right to a fair trial and the fundamental principle of publicity of proceedings,” the lawyer wrote.

Menteshashvili’s side was seeking his acquittal before the higher court. Menteshashvili is the first citizen to have been held criminally liable under the legislation tightened in the wake of protest rallies for repeated blocking of a roadway. He spent nine months in prison.

Tornike Toshkhua Detained Again near the City Assembly over a Banner

On 31 July, civil activist Tornike Toshkhua was detained near the Tbilisi City Assembly building. He was holding a sheet of paper reading: “Is Bidzina not a d***/is he?”

According to circulated video footage, during the detention Toshkhua asked police officers to explain the grounds for his detention. In the footage, police can be heard citing “hooliganism” as the basis for the detention. Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed to Radio Liberty that Tornike Toshkhua had been detained under administrative procedure for an “insulting banner,” on the basis of Article 166 of the Code of Administrative Offences – petty hooliganism.

Tornike Toshkhua had also been detained by police on 26 July near the Tbilisi City Assembly building, also over an “insulting banner.” At that time, he was holding a sheet of paper reading: “Is Bidzina a d***? Yes or No.” Following his detention, nine more citizens were detained near the City Assembly in solidarity. In the cases of those detained on 26 July, the court imposed administrative detention on some of them and administrative fines on others. Toshkhua himself was fined GEL 3,000 by Judge Zviad Tsekvava.

Toshkhua had previously also been detained under criminal procedure and left prison several weeks ago.

On 2 August, Judge Tornike Kapanadze imposed 5 days of administrative detention on Tornike Toshkhua.

Activist Nodar Tsitsarishvili, Detained near the City Assembly, Transferred to Gori Temporary Detention Isolator

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.

Supporters of Persons Detained on 26 July Forced to Leave Court Building

Human rights defender Marika Arevadze stated that an officer of the Court Bailiff Service used force against her at Tbilisi City Court. According to her, the bailiff pushed her and forced her to leave the court building.

“The footage does not show how this inhuman person pushes me and uses force against me!! However, it does show the situation,” Arevadze wrote on social media. According to Arevadze, she called patrol police to the scene.

According to reports, officers of the Court Bailiff Service forced citizens to leave the court premises. The citizens had come to support the protest participants detained near the Tbilisi City Assembly on 26 July and were waiting for the administrative proceedings to conclude.

According to the alleged victims, during the hearing of the final case, officers of the Court Bailiff Service also used force against activist Ruska Mchedlidze. According to Mchedlidze, the court bailiffs would not let go of her and tightened their grip, despite her asking them to release her because of severe pain. She said the pain was so intense that she was on the verge of losing consciousness. Throughout the day, reports circulated several times about confrontations between citizens and court bailiffs. Video footage was also circulated on social media showing bailiffs forcing citizens to leave the court building.

In Cases of Persons Detained near the City Assembly on 26 July, Four Remained in Detention and Five Were Fined

On 28 July, late at night, the court concluded the hearings in the cases of 10 persons detained near the Tbilisi City Assembly on 26 July. The cases were heard by Judges Zviad Tsekvava and Tornike Kapanadze.

By court decision, four persons were subjected to administrative detention. Ia Melitauri and Nato Bolkvadze were subjected to 5 days of administrative detention, while Shako Baghdoshvili and Lasha Dgebuadze were subjected to 10 days of administrative detention.

The remaining detainees were fined by the court: Tornike Toshkhua – GEL 3,000, Vaso Beridze – GEL 5,000, Mariam Mekantsishvili – GEL 6,000, Marine Nanava – GEL 5,000, and Sandro Sekhniashvili – GEL 5,000. Consideration of Tornike Tikaridze’s case was postponed until 31 July, and he was released from detention.

In Ia Melitauri’s case, the judge did not establish a violation of Article 173 and found her administratively liable only for petty hooliganism. According to persons present at the hearing, Melitauri spoke about ill-treatment in police custody and showed the judge injuries sustained during her detention.

In parallel with the hearings, reports circulated about confrontations between citizens and officers of the Court Bailiff Service. Circulated footage showed bailiffs forcing citizens to leave the court building.

The case concerns the events that took place near the Tbilisi City Assembly on 26 July. Police initially detained Tornike Toshkhua, who was standing near the City Assembly with a banner reading: “Is Bidzina a d***? Yes – No.” Following his detention, citizens displayed banners with the same wording in solidarity, after which police detained nine additional persons. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that the detainees had used obscene language in a public space and disobeyed a lawful order of police.

Giorgi Akhobadze Subjected to 25 Days of Administrative Detention over a Public Statement

The court imposed 25 days of administrative detention on doctor Giorgi Akhobadze, a participant in the continuous protest rallies. The decision was delivered by Judge Manuchar Tsatsua.

According to reports, the court considered and consolidated two administrative cases against Akhobadze. The cases concerned both posts published on social media, including those relating to Grigol Kachkachishvili, Irakli Kobakhidze, and Levan Makhashvili, as well as insulting statements allegedly made during a telephone conversation toward current and former employees of the Central Criminal Police Department and its chancellery.

According to the pro-government TV Imedi, the basis for imposing administrative detention was the repeated nature of the alleged insulting acts. According to the channel, Akhobadze had been requesting the return of a mobile phone seized within the framework of the criminal case pending against him, after which he verbally insulted police officers.

Following the court’s decision, Giorgi Akhobadze stated that he had been found administratively liable for “insulting police officers who plant evidence.” “They found me guilty of insulting police officers who planted evidence,” Akhobadze told TV Pirveli.

Earlier, on 8 July 2026, former prisoner of conscience Giorgi Akhobadze was fined GEL 3,000. At that time, the newly established Division for Combating Hate Speech within the Ministry of Internal Affairs pursued administrative proceedings against him over an insulting comment made on Vato Shakarashvili’s Facebook page.

Giorgi Akhobadze was detained in Tbilisi in December 2024, when he was returning home from the protest rally taking place on Rustaveli Avenue. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, a narcotic substance was found on him; however, Akhobadze stated that the drugs had been planted. The criminal charge brought against him – illegal purchase and possession of a particularly large quantity of narcotic drugs carried a penalty of 8 to 20 years or life imprisonment. On 6 August 2025, Tbilisi City Court Judge Romeo Tkheshelashvili found Giorgi Akhobadze not guilty and released him from the courtroom, citing insufficient evidence.

Administrative proceedings against citizens over opinions expressed in public spaces are initiated on the basis of administrative offence reports drawn up by the newly established Division for Combating Hate Speech within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The new division has been operating within the Ministry of Internal Affairs since 1 June. The division’s task is to monitor and proactively identify statements disseminated in public spaces that are degrading to human dignity, insulting, or contain hate speech, if they bear signs of an administrative offence.

Several Individuals Attacked Comedian Onise Okriashvili near His Home Following a Discrediting Campaign

On 22 July, civil activist and comedian Onise Okriashvili was attacked near his home by several individuals. Publicly circulated video footage shows several individuals physically assaulting Okriashvili near his home. Following the attack, Okriashvili was taken to a medical clinic.

According to Okriashvili’s wife, Mariam Samushia, he was undergoing medical examinations to determine whether he had sustained injuries. “I heard shouting near the house, called Onise, and it turned out that he had been attacked. Onise is now undergoing examinations to determine whether he has any injuries. Today we were discussing filing a complaint over the defamation disseminated by propaganda media, and today Onise was beaten. This is artificially incited hatred,” Samushia said.

The attack was preceded by a discrediting campaign against Okriashvili by pro-government media outlets. For several days, pro-government channels criticized him over a reference to Nodar Dumbadze in an episode of the comedy YouTube show Punchline Therapy. According to Okriashvili, the disputed phrase was not an insult directed at the writer, but a comedic comparison made in a hypothetical context. Okriashvili is a comedian who has recently been actively involved in the protest movement, including solidarity actions against restrictions on freedom of expression and unlawful detentions.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, one person was arrested on charges of violence against Onise Okriashvili. The Ministry stated that the alleged attacker appeared voluntarily at the Vake-Saburtalo Police Division.

Despite the attack, the discrediting campaign against Okriashvili has not stopped. Pro-government media outlets continue to circulate videos and excerpts from his stand-up performances and podcasts, presenting them out of context. At the same time, the same outlets are disseminating materials supportive of the person accused of the attack, portraying him not as a person charged with violence, but as someone who allegedly defended “Georgian dignity,” Orthodox Christianity, traditions, and the name of Nodar Dumbadze. These narratives are being circulated in a coordinated manner on the platforms of both TV Imedi and Rustavi 2.

Against this backdrop, the Prosecutor’s Office requested GEL 5,000 bail as a preventive measure against the accused. Georgian Dream MP Dimitri Samkharadze also commented on the matter, stating that he was ready to use his parliamentary mandate and, if Niko Khurtsilava wished, act as his surety to support his release on bail

Several Citizens Verbally Confronted Protest Participants on Kote Abkhazi Street

On 22 July, a verbal confrontation took place on Kote Abkhazi Street between several citizens and participants of a protest march. According to reports, the protest participants were moving along Kote Abkhazi Street as part of a march when several individuals confronted them.

According to photographer Levan Zazadze, the individuals involved in the confrontation appeared to be intoxicated. Zazadze also published a corresponding video on social media. According to the footage, several citizens are seen verbally confronting one of the protest participants.

This is not the first such incident; similar street incidents have occurred several times in the past. For example, on 7 May 2024, an unidentified individual attacked and physically assaulted Giorgi Kldiashvili, Director of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, in the street. In addition, on 11 June 2024, one hour after Georgian Dream Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili published a Facebook post accusing activist Zuka Berdzenishvili of threatening members of parliament, a violent group physically assaulted Berdzenishvili. The attackers reportedly ambushed him near his home.