Journalist and activist Nanuka Zhorzholiani was subjected to three days of administrative detention for standing on the sidewalk. The decision was delivered by Judge Davit Makaradze of Tbilisi City Court.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that, on 16 December 2025, Zhorzholiani had created an obstruction to pedestrian movement on the sidewalk in front of Parliament.
Administrative proceedings against citizens protesting on sidewalks began after “Georgian Dream” adopted another restrictive and repressive legislative amendment on 12 December 2025. The amendments were considered under an expedited procedure within three days. Through these amendments, protest was effectively prohibited even on sidewalks. For a first violation, the provision envisages administrative detention for up to 15 days, and up to 20 days in the case of an organizer; in the event of a repeated violation, criminal liability may be imposed.
The bank accounts of Aleksi (Buka) Petriashvili, former State Minister for European Integration, were subjected to seizure. He learned about this after leaving the temporary detention facility following three days of administrative detention. “I came out and found my account seized,” he wrote on social media on 16 May.
On 14 May, Judge Tornike Kapanadze of Tbilisi City Court imposed three days of administrative detention on Aleksi Petriashvili for standing on the sidewalk. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that, on 17 December, Petriashvili had created an obstruction to pedestrian movement on the sidewalk in front of Parliament
Judge Manuchar Tsatsua of Tbilisi City Court found Duta Javakhishvili, a person with a disability, liable for an administrative offence and imposed a fine of GEL 5,000. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that Javakhishvili had blocked the roadway on 7 February.
In the case of persons with disabilities, the law provides for a GEL 5,000 fine instead of administrative detention. According to Duta Javakhishvili, the decision will be appealed.
Judge Tornike Kapanadze of Tbilisi City Court imposed three days of administrative detention on Aleksi (Buka) Petriashvili, former State Minister for European Integration, for standing on the sidewalk. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that, on 17 December, Petriashvili had created an obstruction to pedestrian movement on the sidewalk in front of Parliament.
Before the decision was announced, Petriashvili told the court that the video did not show any indication that anyone’s movement on the sidewalk had been obstructed. According to him, there was sufficient space around him and people were moving freely. Petriashvili also stated that, on 17 December, there had been no instruction from the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the location, and argued that the law in question contradicts the Constitution of Georgia and international standards.On the same day, Judge Kapanadze also heard the case of another protest participant, Sandro Sekhniashvili, and issued him a verbal warning. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that Sekhniashvili had blocked the roadway in front of Parliament on 7 February.
Tbilisi City Court imposed two days of administrative detention on Nino Saghiridze for standing on the sidewalk. The decision was delivered by Judge Tornike Kapanadze.
Elene Gelashvili, a participant in the ongoing protest, was also subjected to two days of administrative detention for standing on the sidewalk. The decision was delivered by Judge Zviad Tsekvava. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that, on 18 December, Gelashvili had obstructed pedestrian movement on the sidewalk in front of Parliament. Elene Gelashvili was detained by police in the courtyard of the Agricultural University.
The administrative offence reports were drawn up under a provision that provides for administrative detention of up to 15 days as a sanction, and up to 20 days in the case of an organizer. Repeated commission of an offence under the same provision entails criminal liability and is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year.
Judge Paata Silagadze of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of eight people detained during the December 2024 protests.
At first instance, Judge Tamar Mchedlishvili sentenced Vepkhia Kasradze, Vasil Kadzelashvili, and Zviad Tsetskhladze to 2 years and 6 months’ imprisonment, while the other five convicted individuals — Irakli Miminoshvili, Tornike Goshadze, Insaf Aliyev, Nikoloz Javakhishvili, and Giorgi Gorgadze — were sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment.
The first-instance court reclassified the charges from Article 225 of the Criminal Code of Georgia to Article 226. Article 226 concerns the organization of group actions, or participation in such actions, that seriously disrupt public order.
Judge Tamar Mchedlishvili found Zviad Tsetskhladze, Vepkhia Kasradze, and Vasil Kadzelashvili to be the organizers of the group action, while the remaining five individuals were found to be participants.
In their appeal, the convicted individuals sought the annulment of the first-instance judgment and requested an acquittal. The prosecution, for its part, challenged the judgment with respect to the legal qualification of the offence and sought the conviction of the individuals under the provision concerning participation in group violence.
Tbilisi City Court imposed one day of administrative detention on Giorgi Savaneli for standing on the sidewalk. The decision was delivered by Judge Tornike Kapanadze.
On 8 May, following the court hearing, Savaneli’s lawyer, Ayhan Hasanli, wrote that the only “evidence” in the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ case had been obtained unlawfully. According to the lawyer, the case does not concern an administrative offence, but rather the constitutionally protected freedom of assembly and manifestation. He stated that the court hearing mainly concerned a one-page “inspection report” and an “official report.” According to the lawyer, when a citizen is held administratively liable for standing on the sidewalk, participating in an assembly, and publicly expressing their opinion, the case is no longer merely about an administrative offence report, but about freedom itself.
On the same day, Judge Tornike Kapanadze imposed two days of administrative detention on Tata Peradze, a member of the party “Droa,” in a case concerning the obstruction of pedestrians on the sidewalk and the artificial blocking of the roadway. Tata Peradze did not attend the court hearing. She was waiting for the enforcement of the decision at the party office, where she was later detained.
Judge Koba Chagunava of Tbilisi City Court imposed five days of administrative detention on Giga Makarashvili. The case concerns a post published on social media which, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, contained a verbal insult against the Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili.
The case file includes an administrative offence report drawn up by Korneli Kirtskhalia, Senior Officer of Public Order. According to the report, “on 3 April 2026, citizen Giorgi Makarashvili verbally insulted the Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, through the social network Facebook.”
The court found Makarashvili liable for an administrative offence and imposed five days of administrative detention as a sanction.
Tbilisi City Court imposed four days of administrative detention on Bachana Apkhazava, a participant in the ongoing protest rallies. The decision was delivered by Judge Tornike Kapanadze. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that Apkhazava had obstructed pedestrian movement while standing on the sidewalk in front of Parliament.
The provision under which the administrative offence reports were drawn up provides for administrative detention of up to 15 days as a sanction, and up to 20 days in the case of an organizer. Repeated commission of an offence by a person previously subjected to an administrative sanction under the same provision constitutes a criminal offence and is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year.
Tbilisi City Court issued several decisions in administrative offence cases involving participants in protest rallies. The cases concern the alleged blocking of a sidewalk or the roadway.
Judge Zviad Tsekvava heard the case of Ani Pridonashvili. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that she had blocked the sidewalk on 17 December. The court imposed two days of administrative detention on Pridonashvili.
Nodar Chachanidze, a member of the party “Akhali,” was subjected to three days of administrative detention. The decision was delivered by Judge Tornike Kapanadze. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that Chachanidze had blocked the sidewalk on 18 December.
Tamuna Giorgadze, a participant in the ongoing protest, was subjected to two days of administrative detention. The decision was delivered by Judge Zviad Tsekvava. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that Giorgadze had stood on the sidewalk during the 17 December rally and had blocked the roadway during the Saturday march of 7 February. Both cases were heard jointly.
