Causing Physical Harm

Incidents documented against civil activists – February 2025

Context

The incidents documented in February 2025 show that, during the month of February, the practice of pressure directed against civil activists continued actively. The cases described during the reporting period include administrative detentions, criminal prosecution, physical violence, financial sanctions, as well as alleged discriminatory decisions related to professional activity.

A significant part of the documented cases is linked to peaceful protest activity, including participation in demonstrations and the public expression of positions. At the same time, in a number of cases, there are indications of the use of force and ill-treatment by law enforcement bodies, pointing to risks of restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and expression.

Incidents:

On 2 February 2025, on the 67th day of the pro-European protests, a protest assembly was held in Tbilisi, near Tbilisi Mall, demanding the holding of new elections and the release of persons detained during the protests. During the assembly, police physically assaulted participants and detained a total of 31 persons under administrative procedure.

Among those detained were former President of the National Bank of Georgia Giorgi Kadagidze and Badri Grigalashvili, a political activist of the Coalition for Change, who was later removed from the police detention vehicle together with two other detainees. According to available information, one of them had visible injuries on his face. At the 2 February protest, detainees were physically assaulted by special forces officers under the command of Zviad Kharazishvili. Among the victims was chef Zurab Shonia, who was struck on the head by special forces officers. The activist had to be transferred to Ingorokva Clinic.

A statement disseminated by the Public Defender reads: “The facts of ill-treatment and excessive use of force by police against citizens, journalists and politicians, as reflected in video footage disseminated through public sources, are alarming. Information is also being disseminated about an injured TV Pirveli camera operator as a result of actions by police officers. We also saw, live on air, footage of verbal insults by police officers against women, including female politicians.”

On 4 February 2025, charges were aggravated against eight persons detained on 2 February near Tbilisi Mall — Irakli Tabatadze, Nikoloz Kutubidze, Vasil Eliava, Aleksandre Gogoladze, Dimitri Bidzinashvili, Gigi Ugulava, Irakli Tsignadze and Nikoloz Qumsishvili — who had initially been accused of an administrative offence. The Prosecutor’s Office accused them of committing an offence under Article 19-222 of the Criminal Code. This concerns an attempted group blockade of an object of strategic or special importance. The court imposed bail as a preventive measure on all eight persons and released them from the courtroom.

On 6 February 2025, at dawn, police detained three students of Tbilisi State University and Georgian Technical University — Achi Gochitashvili, Luka Khizadze and Giorgi Barbakadze. All three were demanding, from the corridor of the State University, the release of their comrades held in unlawful captivity and the holding of new elections. They were accused of failure to comply with a lawful order of a law enforcement officer, which is punishable under Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences by a fine or administrative detention.

On 11 February 2025, police fined Zura Tsetskhladze, the father of prisoner of conscience Zviad Tsetskhladze, GEL 5,000 on the basis of Article 174 of the Code of Administrative Offences. According to Zura Tsetskhladze, up to seven police officers were waiting for him near his home and served him with the fine report.

On 11 February 2025, four persons were detained during an ongoing pro-European protest on Rustaveli Avenue. Two of them were released on the basis of a written undertaking. Among those detained were Levan Gogichaishvili, Kakha Turmanidze and Giorgi Okribelashvili, the father of prisoner of conscience Omar Okribelashvili.

On 15 February 2025, the court fined Bacho Dolidze GEL 5,000. He was accused, in connection with the 11 February protest, of artificially blocking a road under Article 174 of the Code of Administrative Offences.

On 18 February 2025, civil activist Nikoloz Latsabidze was attacked by four unidentified individuals. The incident took place on Andronikashvili Street. The activist underwent medical examinations at Viva Med Clinic and was diagnosed with a concussion.

On 18 February 2025, Judge Koba Chagunava found civil activist Isako Devidze liable for an administrative offence and fined him GEL 5,000, while activist Mariam Gachechiladze was issued a verbal warning.

Isako Devidze had been detained on 19 November 2024 on Melikishvili Avenue. On 20 November, he was sentenced to eight days of detention on charges of petty hooliganism and failure to comply with a lawful order of a police officer.

On 20 February 2025, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs fined Lasha Diarov, a member of Strategy Aghmashenebeli. Diarov was accused of artificially blocking the carriageway on 14 February.

On 20 February 2025, several participants in the pro-European protest were issued fines. Eka Siradze, former Ambassador of Georgia to France, was fined GEL 5,000 for participating in the protest. Giorgi Kirakozashvili, the son of a soldier who died heroically in the August War, was fined GEL 1,000, while Nadim Khmaladze was served with two fine notices and is required to pay a total of GEL 25,000 in fines.

On 24 February 2025, teachers dismissed from their jobs spoke to TV Pirveli about political repression. Sophio Roinishvili, a former teacher at Kutaisi Public School No. 6, stated that her participation in a protest and a GEL 5,000 fine imposed for setting off fireworks became the basis for her dismissal. Manana Ghvinjilia, a dismissed teacher from Public School No. 51, is also preparing to defend her interests in court. According to her, she was dismissed before the elections solely because she was the head of the Chugureti organization of Strong Georgia.

On 27 February 2025, the court issued fines to participants in the pro-European protest. Judge Koba Chagunava fined parody artist Kartlos Natroshvili GEL 500 for standing at the Rustaveli protest. Judge Nino Enukidze also fined Nika Narsia on the grounds of road blocking.

Incidents documented against civil activists – December 2025

Context

The incidents documented in December 2025 indicate both the continued trend of detentions and administrative detention in the context of protest assemblies, and the expansion of legal and investigative mechanisms against civil society, media actors and experts. During the month, a number of activists were detained on Rustaveli Avenue and at other protest locations, mainly on allegations of blocking a road during an assembly or failing to comply with police orders.

During the same period, a case of physical violence against an activist was also documented. In addition, Georgian Dream adopted and brought into force legislative amendments that significantly tighten the regulation of assemblies and demonstrations, including by introducing stricter administrative liability for violations of prior notification requirements and restrictions on movement.

In December, particular attention was drawn to the investigation related to the BBC investigative film, within the framework of which the State Security Service summoned doctors, researchers and civil society representatives for questioning in various procedural capacities. This process was assessed as a series of acts of pressure and intimidation against civil society.

Overall, the incidents documented in December highlight three main trends: detentions during protest assemblies, the tightening of regulations governing assemblies, and pressure on civil society through investigative actions.

Incidents

On 1 December 2025, the BBC published an investigative report alleging that the Georgian authorities had used a First World War-era chemical substance to disperse the anti-government demonstrations of 2024. Within the framework of the investigation, more than 160 investigative actions were carried out and 93 witnesses were questioned, including current and former employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, doctors, experts and respondents featured in the British broadcaster’s report.

The State Security Service opened an investigation following the publication of the BBC investigative report under Articles 333 and 319 of the Criminal Code. These provisions concern abuse of official authority and assistance to a foreign organization in hostile activities.

According to the State Security Service, the purpose of the investigation is to establish in detail “what information formed the basis of the interviews of the persons relied upon in the information disseminated by the BBC, the information voiced by them, and how relevant that information may be.”

The State Security Service considers it a fact only that, “on the one hand, the disseminated material contains elements of a crime which, if confirmed, is directed against the life and health of citizens and substantially violates their and the public’s lawful interests,” while “on the other hand, conversely, it contains elements of a crime that grossly damages Georgia’s national interests, its international image and reputation, and is directed against state interests.”

On 2 December 2025, in connection with the BBC investigation, the State Security Service summoned citizens to the agency for questioning. Among them were doctors Gela Ghunashvili and Konstantine Chakhunashvili, who are co-authors of the study featured in the investigative film. Speaking to TV Pirveli, Chakhunashvili noted that the questions mainly concerned his CV and the subject matter of their scientific publications. Chakhunashvili stated that information about their work is public and can be accessed by any person.

On 3 December, in connection with the BBC investigative film, the State Security Service summoned Eka Gigauri, Director of Transparency International Georgia, and activist Mikheil Zakareishvili, who participated in the scientific study conducted by doctor Konstantine Chakhunashvili, for questioning as witnesses. Eka Gigauri was questioned before a magistrate judge. According to her, she was not asked questions concerning intoxication; rather, the State Security Service was mainly interested in whether Gigauri had received any form of remuneration for providing a comment to the BBC, which the Director of Transparency International Georgia assessed as an incomprehensible question.

On 3 December, doctor Davit Chakhunashvili and academic Giorgi Chakhunashvili were also questioned before a magistrate judge. According to Davit Chakhunashvili, investigators asked questions concerning the study conducted by the group of doctors and were interested in whether the study referred to the substance “camite.”

On 6 December 2025, during a protest held near the Government Administration in Tbilisi, law enforcement officers detained activist Giorgi Melitauri. The protest march, held under the slogan “The regime is poisoning us — conduct an international investigation,” was moving from the Parliament building towards the Government Administration. Demonstrators were demanding an international investigation and the examination of substances contained in the water cannon used during the dispersal of the November–December 2024 protests.

On 9 December 2025, activist Roman Akopov was allegedly ambushed near his residence and physically assaulted. The activist himself published photographs on social media.

On 10 December 2025, Georgian Dream considered under an expedited procedure and adopted in the third reading a draft law making it mandatory to notify the police five days in advance of holding an assembly in a place used for the movement of people or transport. In addition, under the legislative amendments, obstructing the free movement of people on sidewalks is prohibited. According to the new amendments to the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations, violation of the rules, including obstructing pedestrian movement on sidewalks or failure to notify the authorities five days in advance of an assembly, entails, for a first offence, administrative detention of up to 15 days for an ordinary participant and up to 20 days for an organizer. Repeated commission of the same offence is classified as a criminal offence.

On 12 December 2025, civil activist Nene Gablaia was detained on Rustaveli Avenue. Footage disseminated on social media shows several police officers placing Gablaia into a detention vehicle.

On 20 December 2025, tensions escalated during an ongoing protest on Rustaveli Avenue. Police detained activist Isako Devidze. According to protest participants, Devidze was apprehended by around ten police officers through the use of force.

Civil Activist Tamuna Giorgadze Subjected to Physical Violence during a Protest Rally

On 6 June, during the protest rally known as the “Saturday March,” civil activist Tamuna Giorgadze was subjected to physical violence by an unidentified person. The alleged assailant was riding a scooter of the courier company “Glovo.” Police officers escorted him away from the area.

In an interview with Batumelebi, Tamuna Giorgadze stated that, before the march began, the same person passed by the protest participants on a scooter and verbally insulted them.

“We were standing near the Philharmonic Hall, waiting for the march to begin. Five of us were standing on the traffic island between the sidewalk and the road. A Glovo courier passed by and insulted us, using offensive language. Levan Zazadze [a photographer] was standing next to me and responded to him. The man then moved to attack, and I tried to stand between them. He first hit Levan in the face, and because I was standing between them, I was hit in the jaw and abdomen as he was swinging his arms,” Giorgadze said.

As a result of the incident, the activist sustained bodily injuries to her face, hand, and abdomen. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, an investigation has been initiated under Article 126 of the Criminal Code, which concerns violence.