Judge Tornike Kapanadze delivered a decision in the case of two demonstrators, Nestan Mamatsashvili and Natia Gopodze. The case concerned the alleged “artificial blocking” of a roadway on 31 January, during one of the Saturday marches.
The proceedings against Mamatsashvili and Gopodze were consolidated and heard jointly. The court found both demonstrators liable for an administrative offenceThe court found both demonstrators liable for an administrative offence. Since Mamatsashvili is the mother of minor children, administrative detention could not be imposed on her; instead, the court imposed a fine of GEL 5,000. Natia Gopodze was sentenced to two days of administrative detention.
New cases of administrative detention and the imposition of administrative liability against participants in protest assemblies have been reported in Tbilisi. On 5 May, Tbilisi City Court imposed administrative detention on several civil activists in cases reportedly related to standing on the roadway or near the sidewalk, and to the alleged obstruction of movement.
Judge Koba Chagunava of Tbilisi City Court found activist Data Kashiashvili liable for an administrative offence and imposed four days of administrative detention. Following the hearing, Kashiashvili was taken directly from the courtroom to a temporary detention facility. According to available information, the case file did not include any alleged victim who could confirm that Kashiashvili’s actions had obstructed their movement. Nor was any video evidence presented to substantiate the alleged administrative offence. Nevertheless, the court decided to impose detention.
Civil activist Nino Petriashvili, the mother of a 13-year-old child, was also subjected to two days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that she had blocked the roadway. According to the Ministry, on 7 February, during one of the Saturday marches, after the march had ended, Petriashvili did not move to the sidewalk in front of Parliament and remained on the roadway for several minutes after 21:00.
During the court hearing, Petriashvili stated that she attends almost every march and, as a rule, moves to the sidewalk when instructed to do so by police. According to her, on 7 February, no clear police instruction was given, which led participants to believe that they were allowed to remain in place. Petriashvili argued that this circumstance explains why a number of people have been held administratively liable in relation to the 7 February episode.
Administrative detention was also imposed on Tamar Tevzadze, an actor and member of the movement “Era.” Tevzadze did not attend the court hearing as a form of protest. Following the announcement of the decision, police detained her on the street and placed her in handcuffs. According to available information, she was subjected to two days of administrative detention in a case also related to standing on or near the sidewalk/roadway.
Tbilisi City Court fined civil activist Tamuna Kirtava 5,000 GEL in relation to the alleged blocking of a road on 31 January, during the “Saturday March”. The decision was delivered by Judge Davit Makaradze.
The case was examined under administrative proceedings. After the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs learned that Kirtava has an 11-year-old child and that the law did not allow the use of administrative detention against her, the Ministry requested the court to impose a fine.
“[…] The fact that I am sitting here is already an injustice. You may even send me to detention. Your decision does not have decisive importance. I am sitting here because I stood at a protest,” Kirtava told the judge.
Ia Melitauri, an activist participating in the ongoing protest, was fined 2,500 GEL by the court. The decision was delivered by Judge Tornike Kapanadze of Tbilisi City Court. The administrative offence case against Melitauri concerns a social media post that contained obscene language and mentioned the surname “Salukvadze”. According to the position of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the post was directed at police officer Lasha Salukvadze.
The case was examined under Article 173(2) of the Code of Administrative Offences, which concerns verbal insult of a police officer and provides for a fine ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 GEL or administrative detention of up to 60 days.
According to the defence, the case did not establish that the disputed post was published by Ia Melitauri. In addition, the defence lawyer argued that the post referred only to the surname “Salukvadze”, without a first name, status, or other identifying details, and therefore it was not proven that the text was specifically directed at police officer Lasha Salukvadze.
According to publicly available information, nine members of the troupe of Kote Marjanishvili State Academic Theatre were dismissed, including Eka Nizharadze, Natia Gubenko, Maia Katsitadze, Irakli Cholokashvili, Ninaka Gelashvili, Guram Jashi, and Zaza Iakashvili.
The theatre has not issued a public statement regarding any reorganization and has not provided reasons for the dismissals. According to the actors, in January, instead of the usual one-year contracts, they were offered three-month contracts, which expired on 30 April.
“I did not receive any official notification. They simply offered a three-month contract for the first time, and this was a sign for me that they intended to terminate the contract,” – stated Irakli Cholokashvili in an interview with TV Pirveli.
The dismissals took place against the backdrop of the active participation of part of the theatre community in anti-government and pro-European demonstrations. According to the dismissed actors and media reports, their civic engagement may have been the reason for the dismissals.
Judge Zviad Tsekvava of the Administrative Chamber of Tbilisi City Court sentenced Beka Lokhishvili to 15 days of administrative detention in relation to posts published on social media concerning police officers.
According to available information, in his social media post, Lokhishvili criticized the conduct of the Patrol Police in relation to issues concerning motorcycles and referred to police officers using obscene and insulting language.
Verbal insult of a police officer constitutes an administrative offence under Article 173(2) of the Code of Administrative Offences, which provides for sanctions in the form of either a fine or administrative detention of up to 60 days. Repeated commission of the same act may constitute grounds for criminal liability.
Judge Tornike Kapanadze of the Tbilisi City Court imposed 2 days of administrative detention each on active participants in protest rallies, Ia Mghibrishvili and Inga Buadze.
Inga Buadze told TV Pirveli that the Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that she had blocked a roadway on February 7. “After the march, I remained on the road; I felt the need to protest because amendments had been introduced to the law and my friends were being fined and detained for standing on the sidewalk,” she stated.
As for Ia Mghibrishvili, the Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that, on December 18, she had created an obstruction for pedestrians on the sidewalk. Her lawyer told the media that the hearing had been adjourned at the stage of replies and the substantive examination of the case had not been completed; however, the judge announced the decision before the lawyer was even able to enter the courtroom.
On the same day, in connection with the April 9 protest, Judge Zviad Tsekvava of the Tbilisi City Court imposed 3 days of administrative detention on Gio Chachanidze. The case concerns allegedly creating an obstruction for pedestrians by standing on the sidewalk in front of Parliament.
The Tbilisi Court of Appeal upheld the 8.5-year sentence of Anton Chechin, convicted on drug-related charges. The decision was delivered on April 27 by an appellate panel composed of judges Nino Chakhnashvili, Giorgi Keratishvili, and Paata Silagadze.
Chechin did not exercise his right to a final statement and did not attend the pronouncement of the judgment. At first instance, the judgment against Chechin was delivered by Judge Jvebe Nachkebia.
Chechin was convicted of possession of a particularly large quantity of narcotic substances. He does not admit guilt and claims that the drugs were planted on him due to his participation in protests. He was arrested on December 3, 2024, during ongoing demonstrations.
Activist Mariam Mekantsishvili was imposed a fine of 4,000 GEL on the grounds of insulting municipal assembly member Beka Davituliani. The decision was taken by Judge Tornike Kochkiani.
The incident, in relation to which the Ministry of Internal Affairs initiated administrative proceedings, occurred on April 9. At the April 9 memorial, Meqanqishvili referred to the MP as a “traitor to the country,” a “Russian slave,” and a “betrayer.”
In response to the demonstrator’s protest chants, Davituliani repeatedly instructed her to move away, after which he became irritated, grabbed her, and forcibly removed her from the area.
The Tbilisi Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of the court of first instance, finding 19-year-old Saba Jikia guilty and maintaining the sentence of 4 years and 6 months of imprisonment. The decision was delivered by Judge Giorgi Keratishvili.
Jikia was charged under Article 353¹, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, which concerns an attack on a police officer and provides for a penalty of 4 to 7 years’ imprisonment. According to the prosecution, he delivered a kick to the torso of an employee of the Special Tasks Department.
The alleged victim in the case, Special Tasks Department officer Beka Gotiashvili, has stated that he did not sustain any injury. Saba Jikia was arrested on December 4, 2024.
