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.
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.
An active protest participant, activist Ani Chrdileli, was imposed 2 days of administrative detention by Judge Zviad Tsekvava. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that Chrdileli had artificially blocked a roadway in the vicinity of the Parliament on March 7.
On 16 October 2025, Georgian Dream adopted legislative amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia and the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, which significantly restrict the forms through which demonstrators may express peaceful protest. Under these amendments, Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences was supplemented with paragraph 10, providing that participants in assemblies and demonstrations shall be subject to mandatory administrative detention for certain acts. These include, inter alia, covering one’s face with a mask or other means, possessing tear gas or similar substances, intentionally creating obstacles to pedestrian or vehicular movement, installing temporary structures, or partially or fully blocking a roadway.
A violation of this provision is punishable by administrative detention for up to 15 days, or up to 20 days in the case of an organizer. The amendments also introduced changes to the Criminal Code of Georgia, providing that the repeated commission of the above-mentioned acts within a one-year period may result in criminal liability.
The Tbilisi City Court found several activists liable for administrative offences on charges of blocking the road. The decisions were issued by Judge Koba Chagunava.
Protest participant Rezi Dumbadze was sentenced to 4 days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs charged him with artificially blocking a roadway on January 31.
The same judge imposed 3 days of administrative detention on Zviad Mariamidze. Ana Meburishvili and Natia Tsitsilashvili were issued verbal warnings by the court.
On 16 October 2025, Georgian Dream adopted legislative amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia and the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, which significantly restrict the forms through which demonstrators may express peaceful protest. Under these amendments, Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences was supplemented with paragraph 10, providing that participants in assemblies and demonstrations shall be subject to mandatory administrative detention for certain acts. These include, inter alia, covering one’s face with a mask or other means, possessing tear gas or similar substances, intentionally creating obstacles to pedestrian or vehicular movement, installing temporary structures, or partially or fully blocking a roadway.
A violation of this provision is punishable by administrative detention for up to 15 days, or up to 20 days in the case of an organizer. The amendments also introduced changes to the Criminal Code of Georgia, providing that the repeated commission of the above-mentioned acts within a one-year period may result in criminal liability.
Civil activist Tamuna Giorgadze writes on social media that Judge Manuchar Tsatsua of the Tbilisi City Court found Taso Dolidze liable for an administrative offence in connection with a protest held on the sidewalk and imposed 2 days of administrative detention.
Administrative proceedings against citizens in relation to sidewalk protests commenced following legislative amendments adopted by Georgian Dream on 12 December 2025. The amendments were adopted following accelerated parliamentary consideration over a three-day period. As a result of these amendments, protest activity on sidewalks was, in effect, also prohibited. For a first violation, the legislation provides for administrative detention for a period of up to 15 days (up to 20 days in the case of an organizer), while a repeated violation may result in the imposition of criminal liability. According to the assessment of Transparency International Georgia, “the detention of an individual for standing on a sidewalk, even under administrative procedure, let alone the imposition of criminal punishment cannot withstand any criticism when assessed against the standards of freedom of assembly guaranteed by the Constitution of Georgia and by international human rights instruments.”
