The civil activist, who is an active participant in the protest rallies, writes on social media that a postal courier delivered to her part of the seizure orders, which are related to the non-payment of fines imposed on her.
According to a statement she published on social media, a postal courier delivered several seizure orders to her, related to fines imposed on her. She reports that she received six such orders in one day, while the total number amounts to 21, each concerning a fine of 5,000 GEL. The activist indicates that the sanctions are likely linked to her participation in protest actions and allegations of blocking a roadway.
On April 15, the bank accounts of three civil activists – Natia Megrelishvili, Natia Artmeladze, and Tamta Chkhaidze were seized for non-payment of fines, of which none of them had been notified. The activists reported the seizure on social media.
Tamta Chkhaidze, the spouse of “prisoner of conscience” Giorgi Okmelashvili and an active participant in protests, has been fined a total of 25,000 GEL. In comments to Batumelebi, she stated that she does not intend to pay the fines and has appealed the seizure. Giorgi Okmelashvili, a participant in protests against the so-called “Russian law,” was sentenced on May 17, 2024 to 5 years of imprisonment on charges of insulting a police officer.
Under Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences, “artificial blocking of the road” constitutes a violation of the rules governing the organization and conduct of assemblies and demonstrations. Since February 7, 2025, the fine for “artificially blocking the road” has increased tenfold to 5,000 GEL. Hundreds of participants in pro-European protests have reportedly been issued such fines, with the cumulative amount reaching several million GEL. Where fines remain unpaid, enforcement measures include the seizure of bank accounts. Multiple such cases have already been documented.
The bank accounts of Elene Akhobadze, the mother of “prisoner of conscience” Saba Skhvitaridze, have been placed under seizure. The information was disclosed by Akhobadze herself via social media. “Yesterday, on the Feast of the Annunciation, during Holy Week, this ‘religious’ government, without any prior notice, imposed a seizure on my accounts over a non-existent fine. I have not received any notification or fine,” she wrote.
Under Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences, “artificial blocking of the road” constitutes a violation of the rules governing the organization and conduct of assemblies and demonstrations. Since February 7 of last year, the fine for “artificially blocking the road” has increased tenfold to 5,000 GEL. Hundreds of participants in pro-European protests have reportedly been issued such fines, with the cumulative amount reaching several million GEL. Where fines remain unpaid, enforcement measures include the seizure of bank accounts. Multiple such cases have already been documented.
Civic activist Ana Ingorokva stated on social media that enforcement proceedings were initiated against activist Data Chachua, and a seizure was imposed without him having received prior information regarding the fine. According to the same source, upon seeking clarification, he was informed that he had been administratively fined in March 2025 for blocking a road. The amount of the fine is GEL 5,350.
According to civil activist Natia Gabrava, enforcement proceedings were initiated against her and her bank accounts were subjected to seizure due to a fine imposed in connection with a social media post concerning a senior official of the Patrol Police Department, Lasha Salukvadze.
According to the case materials, Gabrava referred to Salukvadze in an offensive manner on social media, following which Salukvadze filed a complaint with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The case was examined under Article 173(2) of the Code of Administrative Offences, which concerns verbal insult of a law enforcement officer. In November, 2025 Judge Tornike Kochkian of the Tbilisi City Court imposed a fine of GEL 5,000 on Gabrava.
Due to non-payment of the fine, enforcement proceedings were initiated, and the National Bureau of Enforcement imposed seizure on Gabrava’s bank accounts. According to Gabrava, the total amount subject to seizure is GEL 5,350. She further stated that the seized funds included money collected to support the family of a detainee.Gabrava later wrote on social media that the required amount was raised through public support.
Keti Kherashvili, a civil activist and the sister of prisoner of conscience Irakli Kherashvili, wrote on social media that she had been contacted by the National Bureau of Enforcement of Georgia and informed that she had been fined GEL 5,000 on the basis of information received from the Patrol Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to her, she had not previously been aware of the existence of this fine and, accordingly, had not paid it. She further stated that this is not the only fine imposed on her in connection with her participation in protests.
Subsequently, Keti Kherashvili wrote on social media that enforcement proceedings had been initiated against her and that the Bureau had applied a seizure measure. According to her, the case reached the enforcement stage and the proceedings were conducted without her having been informed of the existence of the fine.
On 28 January and 16 February 2026, the ruling party Georgian Dream initiated a legislative package introducing amendments to the Law on Grants, the Criminal Code of Georgia, the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, and the Law of Georgia on Political Associations of Citizens. On 4 March, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the proposed amendments in the third reading during a plenary session.
The adopted amendments significantly tighten the regulatory framework governing foreign funding and expand the legal definition of a grant to encompass not only financial resources but also in-kind contributions and technical assistance that may be used to influence political processes in Georgia. The legislative amendments also introduce additional restrictions on political activity, including prohibiting individuals employed by organizations receiving foreign funding from holding membership in political parties and strengthening liability for so-called “external lobbying.”
The legislative package further introduces amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia, under which the systematic non-recognition of state authorities, as well as public and repeated calls for the mass violation of legislation, disobedience to state authorities, or the establishment of alternative governing bodies, will be subject to legal liability. The law will enter into force upon its official publication.
On 6 February 2026, civil activist Lasha Janjgava disseminated information via social media indicating that the bank accounts of activist Mariam Tsomaia had been subject to seizure measures due to the non-payment of an administrative fine. According to documents attached to the post, on 5 September 2025, Judge Lela Tsagareishvili of the Tbilisi City Court found Tsomaia liable under Article 166(1) (minor hooliganism) and Article 173(1) (non-compliance with a lawful order of a law enforcement officer) of the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, and imposed an administrative fine of GEL 2,500.
According to the information shared by Janjgava, the decision was not served on Tsomaia following her administrative detention, and she reportedly became aware of the enforcement measure only after her bank accounts had been seized.
Mariam Tsomaia was detained by police on 2 September 2025 on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, along with eighteen other demonstrators. On that date, the Parliament of Georgia was hearing a report prepared by the Temporary Investigative Commission established under the leadership of Georgian Dream member Tea Tsulukiani. The commission examined the activities of political office-holders and current or former officials affiliated with the United National Movement during the period 2003–2012. According to available information, citizens initially gathered near the Parliament building and subsequently on Rustaveli Avenue to protest the findings of the commission.
On 5 February 2026, dozens of individuals participating in pro-European protests reported receiving notifications that their bank accounts had been subject to seizure measures. According to available information, the enforcement action was linked to the non-payment of administrative fines. Several individuals indicated via social media that they had not previously been informed of the fines. Following inquiries with the National Bureau of Enforcement, they learned that the sanctions related to alleged violations recorded in 2025, specifically for the “artificial blocking of a roadway” during protest demonstrations.
Information regarding the seizure of bank accounts was publicly shared by at least twenty citizens on social media. The individuals include:
- Achi Gochitashvili
- Mariam Paichadze
- Beka Berikashvili
- Giorgi Melitauri
- Mari Lortkipanidze
- Misha Samkharadze
- Tatia Mekvabishvili
- Lasha Dgebuadze
- Tika Pataraia
- Davit Gogicha
- Saba Japaridze
- Sandro Liparteliani
- Mariam Gvinianidze
- Sandro Tughushi
- Nukri Albutashvili
- Elene Berikashvili
- Keti Kantaria
- Mariko Tsomaia
- Nino Ramishvili
- Lasha Bakradze
Under Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, the “artificial blocking of a roadway” constitutes a violation of the rules governing the organisation and conduct of assemblies and demonstrations. As of 7 February of the previous year, the administrative fine for this offence was increased to GEL 5,000.Available information suggests that administrative fines of this nature have been imposed on a significant number of participants in pro-European protests.
The bank accounts of Davit Jincharadze, founder of the Freedom Fund, political technologies researcher, and civic activist, have been subject to seizure. He received notification of the enforcement measure on 20 January from the Bank of Georgia. In an interview with the outlet Batumelebi, Davit Jincharadze stated that the administrative offense report imposing the fine was not served on him, and that he became aware of the existence of the fine only while crossing the state border. According to him, information regarding the fine cannot be found on either protocol.ge or police.ge. As he was informed at the border, a fine was issued in his name on 5 September 2025. “There was a protest on Melikishvili Avenue, where I was using a megaphone,” he stated.
Davit Jincharadze founded the Freedom Fund to support participants of pro-European protests and political prisoners. The Fund operates a foreign bank account. He stated that he had also used bank accounts in Georgia to assist protest participants; however, due to the risk of enforcement seizure, he refrained from holding significant sums in those accounts.
