Civil activist Vakhtang Gagnidze, an active participant in the ongoing protests, was sentenced to 3 days of administrative detention by Judge Koba Chagunava.
According to Gagnidze’s lawyer, Dimitri Vardiashvili, the court considered several cases jointly, including allegations of artificially blocking a roadway and creating an obstruction for pedestrians on the sidewalk. Both offences fall under Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences. The lawyer stated that Gagnidze was unable to attend the hearing due to his health condition. According to the same source, he suffers from severe pain and is simultaneously raising funds to cover medical treatment expenses.
Following the court’s decision, Gagnidze wrote on social media: “I could have avoided administrative detention for myself — you are aware of my surgeries and you also know that my rehabilitation is not going very well. But this is a different matter… When my friends are being detained on absurd charges allegedly for restricting pedestrians on the sidewalk when my fellow protesters are imprisoned for years because of protest, I cannot run around holding a piece of paper and boast that ‘they cannot detain me, I am untouchable.’
There is another issue: I, who a month ago was facing the possibility of losing my leg and survived, now have to undergo rehabilitation in damp conditions. From a human perspective, this makes no sense they could have given me some time to recover and then imposed detention. It’s alright everything will be fine.”
Civil activist Shako Baghdoshvili, who was detained during the confrontation that took place near the April 9 Memorial and who himself sustained physical injuries, was held for several hours in a police station and was ultimately released, with the police stating that he had been questioned as a witness.
The incident occurred on April 9, when members of “Georgian Dream” appeared at the site. Before their arrival, so-called “titushky” approached the protesters who had spent the night near Parliament. A verbal and physical confrontation then took place between the protesters and the citizens present at the scene. According to the protesters, active participants in the ongoing demonstrations were physically assaulted by a supporter of “Georgian Dream.” Shako Baghdoshvili sustained serious injuries, the traces of which were clearly visible on him. Despite this, instead of detaining the assailants, the police detained Baghdoshvili. His lawyer spent several hours trying to establish his whereabouts. Late at night, the police stated that he had been questioned as a witness and, after being held for several hours, Baghdoshvili was released.
It should be recalled that, on the same day and in the same circumstances, another activist, Shota Odishvili, was also detained. He was wearing a T-shirt bearing the image of Bidzina Ivanishvili with an obscene inscription. Judge Zviad Tsekvava of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced him to 10 days of administrative detention, purportedly on the grounds of petty hooliganism and disobedience to police.
Civil activist Shota Odishvili was sentenced to 10 days of administrative detention by Judge Zviad Tsekvava of the Tbilisi City Court. The case concerns allegations of disobedience to police.
Odishvili, who had referred to the honorary chair of “Georgian Dream,” Bidzina Ivanishvili, in an insulting manner, was detained on April 9 near the April 9 Memorial, as representatives of “Georgian Dream” arrived at the site and police attempted to remove activists using force.
According to the detainee’s lawyer, Marika Arevadze, the Ministry of Internal Affairs charged him with petty hooliganism and disobedience to a lawful order of a police officer.
On April 3, Judge Tornike Kapanadze of the Tbilisi City Court found three civil activists liable for administrative offences in connection with a protest held on a sidewalk. One of them, Abkhaz war participant Zosime Bzhalava, was sentenced to 2 days of administrative detention, while the other two – Naniko Bedineishvili and Vika Dzandzava – received a verbal warning.
According to Bzhalava’s lawyer, Malkhaz Pataraia, Zosime Bzhalava is an internally displaced person from Abkhazia. In his assessment, the court’s decision is unlawful and incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Constitution.
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.”
Civil activist Spartak Tsiklauri was found liable for an administrative offence in connection with a protest held on a sidewalk and was sentenced to 4 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.”
Civil activist Vakhtang Ramishvili was found liable for an administrative offence in connection with a protest held on a sidewalk and was sentenced to 4 days of administrative detention. The decision was issued by Judge Tornike Kapanadze of the Tbilisi City Court. The Ministry of Internal Affairs charged Ramishvili with creating an obstruction for pedestrians on the sidewalk.
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.”
Ani Kistauri, an employee of the Media Development Foundation (MDF), was subjected to 2 days of administrative detention. The decision was delivered by Judge Davit Makaradze.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs drew up an administrative offence report against Kistauri for standing on a pavement. The case concerns her presence in front of Parliament on 17 and 18 December 2025 during pro-European protest actions.
During the hearing, the Ministry’s representative, Tekla Kobakhidze, stated that, during Kistauri’s presence at the location, pedestrians were required to move onto the bus lane in order to continue to their destination, which, in her assessment, constituted an obstruction of pedestrian movement. On this basis, she requested that Kistauri be found liable for an administrative offence.
However, the Ministry’s representative did not substantiate the basis on which it was asserted that the individuals who moved onto the bus lane were not protest participants and that their movement had in fact been obstructed, relying instead on her own assessment.
At the stage of the proceedings, defence lawyer Mariam Jikia submitted two motions: first, requesting the termination of the proceedings on the grounds that the relevant legal provision is currently under review before the Constitutional Court, and second, requesting the examination of the patrol inspectors who had drawn up the administrative offence reports. Judge Makaradze dismissed both motion.
Civil activist Mariam Kipiani was subjected to 2 days of administrative detention for standing on a pavement. The decision was delivered by Judge Davit Makaradze.
During the hearing, the representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tekla Kobakhidze, stated that, during the protest, Kipiani was standing in front of Parliament with the intention of deliberately obstructing pedestrian movement. She further indicated that demonstrators had occupied the pedestrian walkway and were expressing their protest in this manner. She requested that Kipiani be found liable for an administrative offence; however, she did not specify where the protest could have been conducted, given that, under the applicable legislation, blocking a roadway is sanctioned in a similar manner.
At the hearing, the Ministry presented surveillance footage from 112, showing several individuals moving from the pavement onto the bus lane while passing near Parliament. According to the Ministry’s representative, these individuals were not participants in the protest and had to move onto the bus lane because the pavement was fully occupied.
The defence asked whether these individuals had raised any complaints, to which the Ministry’s representative responded that no communication had taken place with them. When asked on what basis it was asserted that they were not protest participants and that their movement had been obstructed, Kobakhidze stated: “I am certain.”
Civil activist Mariam Melikishvili was subjected to 2 days of administrative detention for standing on a pavement. The decision was delivered by Judge Manuchar Tsatsua. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that, on 18 December 2025, Melikishvili obstructed pedestrian movement on the pavement.
On 31 March, civic activist Mariam Melikishvili reported a on social media that, in the context of serving a 2-day administrative detention imposed on 27 March, she was requested to fully undress prior to her placement in a temporary detention facility. According to her account, following her transfer from the courtroom to a temporary holding cell, a female police officer instructed her to fully undress. The activist further stated that she was informed that, in case of refusal, the same procedure would be carried out by male officers upon her transfer to another facility. Despite this, she refused to comply with the request.
It is noteworthy that multiple detainees have reported similar practices. The Public Defender of Georgia has stated that, during full-body searches, individuals should not be required to undress different parts of their body simultaneously, and that such practices may amount to degrading and humiliating treatment.On 5 February 2025, the Public Defender filed a constitutional complaint before the Constitutional Court of Georgia, challenging the regulations governing penitentiary institutions that required detainees to fully undress during searches. Subsequently, on 10 June 2025, amendments were introduced by order of the Minister of Justice, abolishing the requirement for detainees to fully undress simultaneously during such procedures.
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.”
Levan Zhvania, a civil activist, was subjected to 4 days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that he was standing on the roadway during protest actions.
According to Zhvania’s lawyer, the video evidence presented in the case file does not substantiate that his client committed any violation. He stated that Zhvania was present at a protest and participating in an assembly, and that, in the defence’s assessment, his conduct did not exceed the limits permitted by law.
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.
