On 19 March, information was disseminated that Shalva Esartia, an activist detained in Zugdidi, was being held under criminal, rather than administrative, proceedings, which was later confirmed by his lawyer, Ramaz Mikaia. According to him, Esartia was charged under Article 353³ of the Criminal Code, which concerns the repeated commission of the same act by a person who has already been subject to an administrative sanction and provides for imprisonment of up to one year.
On 20 March, Judge Ekaterine Bebia of the Zugdidi District Court imposed pre-trial detention as a preventive measure on Shalva Esartia, who had been detained on charges of disobedience to a police officer.
Shalva Esartia was detained on 17 March. His detention was preceded by being stopped while driving, which, according to the “Civil Solidarity Fund”, occurred on the purported grounds of failing to yield to a pedestrian. Esartia denied committing any offence, stating that he had not violated traffic rules. Footage disseminated on the same day shows police officers using force to place him into a patrol police vehicle.
According to the organisation, the shift from an initial administrative charge to criminal proceedings raises indications of selective enforcement and may be linked to his activism. Esartia has been detained for the third time on charges of disobedience to a police officer — in previous instances, he was first fined and subsequently subjected to administrative detention, whereas the present case is being pursued under criminal law.
The provision of the Criminal Code under which repeated disobedience to or insult of a police officer is punishable by up to one year of imprisonment was introduced in Parliament by “Georgian Dream” on 13 October 2025 and adopted under an accelerated procedure within two days.
For the second day, law enforcement officers have been subjecting individuals to searches and identity checks in the vicinity of the Parliament of Georgia. According to the authorities, these measures are being carried out for the purposes of ensuring security and pursuant to the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations. According to law enforcement officials, individuals who refuse to undergo a superficial search will be denied access to the area surrounding the Parliament and the protest site.
According to citizens, the checks are being conducted without the preparation of a written record and are carried out on an oral basis. One individual reportedly requested that a formal record be drawn up; however, law enforcement officers indicated that, in such circumstances, the individual would not be permitted to enter the protest area.
On 12 March, a notable deployment of law enforcement personnel was observed on Rustaveli Avenue, in the area surrounding the Parliament building, where officers were conducting checks of individuals participating in a public assembly. According to information disseminated on social media by photographer Giorgi Mosiashvili, law enforcement officials were reportedly subjecting all individuals carrying bags to searches.Participants in the assembly indicated that such measures were carried out in the absence of clearly articulated legal grounds or prior explanation, raising concerns regarding compliance with applicable standards. It was further reported that officers were inspecting bags with the apparent purpose of identifying and preventing the entry of tents into the area surrounding the Parliament, thereby potentially restricting the ability of demonstrators to sustain their presence at the site.
Following public statements and the publication of two critical reports concerning potential Iranian influence in Georgia, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) called several individuals in for questioning in connection with an investigation opened under Article 319 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The investigation concerns potential assistance to a foreign state, foreign organization, or an entity under foreign control in activities directed against the interests of the state.
As part of the investigation, opposition politician and historian Gubaz Sanikidze was interviewed before a magistrate judge on 7 March. On 8 March, former Minister of Defence and head of Civic Idea Tina Khidasheli, as well as co-author of a report by the Hudson Institute and project manager at the Laboratory for the Study of the Soviet Past, Giorgi Kandelaki, were interviewed at the Tbilisi City Court. During the same period, former Chief of the General Staff, Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze, was also called in for questioning and interviewed as a witness by the SSG. Former Member of Parliament Givi Targamadze was likewise called in; he stated that he is currently outside Georgia and will provide written responses or respond upon his return.
The questioning related to public statements made in televised broadcasts and to research concerning Iran. On 3 March, the Hudson Institute published a report asserting that the Islamic Republic of Iran is “systematically and in an organized manner” expanding its influence in Georgia. The report highlights several areas of concern, including developments in the Kvemo Kartli region and an educational institution operating in Gardabani without proper authorization. The issue of Iranian influence is also addressed in a report by Civic Idea, which examines the import of Iranian oil and petroleum products into Georgia and the potential links of companies involved in this activity.
Following the publication of these reports and related public statements, on 5 and 6 March, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of Georgian Dream, Kakha Kaladze, publicly criticized Tina Khidasheli and Giorgi Kandelaki. He characterized their statements and research as “hostile activity against the country” and stated that “the relevant authorities should take an interest.” According to Kaladze, such statements undermine relations between Georgia and the United States.
Zurab Tsetskhladze, the father of prisoner of conscience Zviad Tsetskhladze, states that in the case concerning standing on a sidewalk during a protest, Judge Nino Enukidze terminated the administrative proceedings and referred the case to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA), indicating that the matter may contain elements of a criminal offence.
The continuation of the case under criminal law is linked to legislative amendments introduced by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, to the Code of Administrative Offences. Under these amendments, the repeated obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular movement during an assembly or demonstration may give rise to criminal liability.
According to Tsetskhladze, the police drew up the administrative offence report on 9 February 2026. The report was issued under Article 174¹(10) of the Code of Administrative Offences. This provision covers several types of administrative offences, including covering one’s face with a mask or other means; creating obstacles to the movement of pedestrians or vehicles; and artificially blocking the roadway used by vehicles or pedestrians. Under Article 347 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, the repeated commission of any of the acts defined in the aforementioned provisions by a person who has already been sanctioned under those articles is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year.
Civil activist Baia Margishvili was subjected to a preventive measure of bail in the amount of 5,000 GEL in a criminal case initiated against her on charges of contempt of court. The bail measure was imposed in her absence.
The incident that gave rise to the investigation occurred on 7 November 2025. On that day, Judge Zviad Tsekvava of the Tbilisi City Court was hearing a case concerning the alleged artificial blocking of a roadway by Margishvili. During the hearing, Margishvili stated: “They have torn the Constitution over your head – what are you talking about? This is how they have torn the Constitution over your head.” She then took the hearing record, tore it up, and scattered the pieces on the table in front of the judge. Following the incident, she was fined 200 GEL and removed from the courtroom.
On 10 February of the current year, Margishvili was notified that criminal proceedings had been initiated against her in connection with the same incident for which she had previously been fined. She has been charged under Article 366(2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns the insult of a judge or juror and is punishable by a fine, corrective labour for a term of one to two years, or imprisonment for up to two years.
Judge Levan Murusidze of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal filed by civil activist Lasha Songulia in the so-called “sidewalk standing case.” Songulia had challenged the decision of the Tbilisi City Court, which terminated the administrative proceedings and transferred the case to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) for further action due to the possible existence of elements of a criminal offence.
The MIA alleged that on 17 December 2025 Songulia created an obstruction to pedestrian movement on the sidewalk near the Parliament of Georgia. On 8 January 2026, the Tbilisi City Court concluded that the act might contain elements of a criminal offence and transferred the case to the MIA.
The continuation of the case under criminal law is linked to legislative amendments introduced by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, to the Code of Administrative Offences. According to these amendments, the repeated obstruction of movement during an assembly or demonstration may give rise to criminal liability. Lasha Songulia had previously been sanctioned for allegedly “artificially blocking a roadway” — initially he was fined 5,000 GEL and later subjected to five days of administrative detention.
Before the Court of Appeals, Songulia also requested the suspension of the proceedings pending a decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia and asked the appellate court to submit a constitutional referral to the Constitutional Court. However, the Court of Appeals dismissed these motions and upheld the decision of the court of first instance.
Civil activist Baia Margishvili faces up to two years’ imprisonment for tearing case materials in a courtroom during a court hearing. Charges were brought against her in her absence. She has been charged under Article 366(2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns the insult of a judge or juror and is punishable by a fine, corrective labour for a term of one to two years, or imprisonment for up to two years.
Margishvili told Radio Liberty that she learned unexpectedly about the initiation of criminal charges against her. On 10 February, she was contacted by the police department where she had previously filed a complaint and was informed that criminal proceedings had been initiated against her.
The incident for which Margishvili is being charged occurred on 7 November 2025. On that day, Judge Zviad Tsekvava of the Tbilisi City Court was hearing a case concerning the alleged “artificial blocking of the road” by Baia Margishvili. “You have torn the Constitution over people’s heads – what are you talking about? This is how you have torn the Constitution over people’s heads,” Margishvili stated, after which she took the hearing transcript, tore it up, and scattered the pieces on the table in front of the judge. Following the incident, she was fined 200 GEL and removed from the courtroom.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has initiated a criminal investigation against civic activist Davit Gagrel in connection with standing on a sidewalk. As reported by the activist on social media, the court informed him that the administrative proceedings instituted against him had been terminated and that the case materials were remitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs due to the presence of indicia of a criminal offense.
According to Davit Gagrel, the court indicated that the alleged act – obstructing pedestrians’ movement on a sidewalk on 18 December 2025 could not be assessed solely within the framework of administrative liability, as he had previously served detention under the same provision. On this basis, the administrative proceedings were discontinued and the case was referred to law enforcement authorities for criminal legal qualification.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleges that Davit Gagrel obstructed citizens’ movement in connection with a protest expressed on a sidewalk. On this basis, administrative proceedings have been instituted against protest participants since Georgian Dream adopted a further repressive legislative amendment restricting freedom of assembly on 12 December 2025, which in fact prohibited protests on sidewalks. Under the amended legal framework, a first violation is punishable by administrative detention of up to 15 days (up to 20 days for organizers), while a repeated violation may entail the imposition of criminal liability.
On the same legal grounds, the court has, to date, remitted the cases of five civic activists to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for further criminal-law assessment: Vazha Gaprindashvili, Giorgi Tsulaia, Ana Bdeiani, and father and son Kakha and Konstantine Mikaia. In total, six activists currently face the risk of criminal prosecution in connection with protests conducted on sidewalks.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has initiated criminal prosecution against civic activist Kakha Mikaia, a former member of the Political Council of Georgian Dream, and his son, Konstantine Mikaia, in connection with standing on a sidewalk. In an interview with TV Pirveli, Kakha Mikaia stated: “I received a decision stating that, following amendments to certain provisions of the Administrative Offences Code, the case has been transferred to criminal proceedings. This was expected from the current authorities.”
Father and son Kakha and Konstantine Mikaia are active participants in the protests on Rustaveli Avenue. Both had previously been subjected to administrative detention on the grounds of allegedly blocking a roadway. On 21 October 2025, Judge Nino Enukidze sentenced Kakha Mikaia, who had been detained during a protest on allegations of unlawfully blocking a roadway, to 14 days of administrative detention. On the same day, Konstantine Mikaia was also sentenced to 14 days of administrative detention. Prior to that, on 17 September 2025, Konstantine Mikaia had been detained for 10 days for non-payment of a fine.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has been accusing individuals of obstructing citizens’ movement for protests expressed on sidewalks since Georgian Dream adopted another repressive legislative amendment restricting freedom of assembly on 12 December 2025, which in fact banned protests on sidewalks. Under the amended legal framework, a first violation is punishable by administrative detention for up to 15 days (up to 20 days for organizers), while a repeated violation may give rise to criminal liability.
On the same grounds, the court has, to date, referred the cases of three civic activists to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for further action: Vazha Gaprindashvili, Giorgi Tsulaia, and Ana Bdeiani.
