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.
Judge Tornike Kapanadze of Tbilisi City Court imposed two days of administrative detention on protest participant Natia Chelidze for blocking a roadway. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that Chelidze had blocked the roadway in front of Parliament on 31 January.
The case concerns Article 174¹(10) of the Code of Administrative Offences, which covers the artificial blocking of a roadway and the creation of an obstruction to pedestrian movement on the sidewalk. The provision provides for administrative detention of up to 15 days, and up to 20 days in the case of an organizer. Repeated violation of the same provision entails criminal liability.
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.
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.
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.
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.
