On 4 March, two additional participants in pro-European protests were sentenced to administrative detention on charges of “blocking the roadway.” Sanctioned judge Manuchar Tsatsua sentenced Deme Sharikadze to four days of administrative detention, while Davith Basaria was sentenced to five days of administrative detention by sanctioned judge Nino Enukidze. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused both individuals of obstructing a roadway during the traditional Saturday march on 31 January.
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.
On 2 March, Judge Manuchar Tsatsua of the Tbilisi City Court found protest participant Levan Samadashvili liable for an administrative offence and imposed a sanction of four days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that Samadashvili had blocked a roadway during a protest held on 7 February.
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.
Judge Davit Makaradze of the Tbilisi City Court found two civil activists liable for administrative offences related to the alleged blocking of a roadway. One of them, Zura Papiashvili, was subjected to four days of administrative detention, while the other, Tamo Gogolidze, received a verbal warning.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia alleged that Zura Papiashvili blocked a roadway on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi during the “Saturday March” on 31 January 2026. Tamo Gogolidze was also accused of blocking a roadway during the “Saturday March” held on 7 February 2026.
Blocking a roadway became a punishable offence following the adoption of restrictive legislative amendments by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. This conduct is prohibited under Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Subsequently, the scope of the same provision was expanded to include standing on the sidewalk, on the basis of which participants in demonstrations are also being held administratively liable. A violation of this provision entails administrative detention for up to 15 days (and up to 20 days for an organizer). Administrative detention does not apply to pregnant women, mothers with children under the age of 12, persons under the age of 18, or persons with pronounced or significant disabilities. Instead, they are subject to a fine of 5,000 GEL, or 15,000 GEL if the person is an organizer. Repeated commission of the same act entails criminal liability.
The Tbilisi City Court found civil activist Nikoloz Tkemaladze liable for an administrative offence related to the alleged blocking of a roadway and subjected him to five days of administrative detention. Judge Davit Makaradze issued the decision. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia alleged that on 7 February 2026, during the “Saturday March,” Tkemaladze blocked a roadway on Rustaveli Avenue
Blocking a roadway became a punishable offence following the adoption of restrictive legislative amendments by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. This conduct is prohibited under Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Subsequently, the scope of the same provision was expanded to include standing on the sidewalk, on the basis of which participants in demonstrations are also being held administratively liable. A violation of this provision entails administrative detention for up to 15 days (and up to 20 days for an organizer). Administrative detention does not apply to pregnant women, mothers with children under the age of 12, persons under the age of 18, or persons with pronounced or significant disabilities. Instead, they are subject to a fine of 5,000 GEL, or 15,000 GEL if the person is an organizer. Repeated commission of the same act entails criminal liability.
Judge Tornike Kochkian of the Tbilisi City Court found two civil activists, Mariam Chkhaidze and Lali Kekua, liable for administrative offences related to the alleged blocking of a roadway. Their cases were examined jointly. Mariam Chkhaidze was subjected to two days of administrative detention, while Lali Kekua was subjected to three days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) alleged that both activists had blocked a roadway on Rustaveli Avenue during the “Saturday March” held on 7 February 2026.
Blocking a roadway became a punishable offence following the adoption of restrictive legislative amendments by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. This conduct is prohibited under Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Subsequently, the scope of the same provision was expanded to include standing on the sidewalk, on the basis of which participants in demonstrations are also being held administratively liable. A violation of this provision entails administrative detention for up to 15 days (and up to 20 days for an organizer). Administrative detention does not apply to pregnant women, mothers with children under the age of 12, persons under the age of 18, or persons with pronounced or significant disabilities. Instead, they are subject to a fine of 5,000 GEL, or 15,000 GEL if the person is an organizer. Repeated commission of the same act entails criminal liability.
Judge Tornike Kochkian of the Tbilisi City Court found civil activist Sopho Markozia liable for an administrative offence related to the blocking of a roadway and subjected her to three days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) alleged that on 7 February 2026, during the “Saturday March,” Markozia blocked a roadway on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.
Blocking a roadway became a punishable offence following the adoption of restrictive legislative amendments by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. This conduct is prohibited under Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Subsequently, the scope of the same provision was expanded to include standing on the sidewalk, on the basis of which participants in demonstrations are also being held administratively liable. A violation of this provision entails administrative detention for up to 15 days (and up to 20 days for an organizer). Administrative detention does not apply to pregnant women, mothers with children under the age of 12, persons under the age of 18, or persons with pronounced or significant disabilities. Instead, they are subject to a fine of 5,000 GEL, or 15,000 GEL if the person is an organizer. Repeated commission of the same act entails criminal liability.
Judge Davit Makaradze of the Tbilisi City Court found civil activist Giorgi Romelashvili liable for an administrative offence related to the blocking of a roadway and subjected him to four days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) alleged that on 7 February 2026, during the “Saturday March,” Romelashvili blocked a roadway on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.Blocking a roadway became a punishable offence following the adoption of restrictive legislative amendments by the ruling party, Georgian Dream. This conduct is prohibited under Article 174¹, paragraph 10 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Subsequently, the scope of the same provision was expanded to include standing on the sidewalk, on the basis of which participants in demonstrations are also being held administratively liable. A violation of this provision entails administrative detention for up to 15 days (and up to 20 days for an organizer). Administrative detention does not apply to pregnant women, mothers with children under the age of 12, persons under the age of 18, or persons with pronounced or significant disabilities. Instead, they are subject to a fine of 5,000 GEL, or 15,000 GEL if the person is an organizer. Repeated commission of the same act entails criminal liability.
Judge Davit Makaridze of the Tbilisi City Court found civil activist Ilia Ghlonti, one of the founders of the “Daitove” platform, liable for an administrative offence for standing on the sidewalk during a protest and ordered four days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia alleged that on 17 December Ghlonti created an obstruction to pedestrian movement on the sidewalk near the Parliament of Georgia.
Administrative proceedings against citizens in relation to sidewalk protests commenced following legislative amendments adopted by Georgian Dream on 12 December 2025. 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.”
Judge Manuchar Tsatsua of the Tbilisi City Court found activist and musician Giorgi Bulia liable for an administrative offence for standing on the sidewalk during a protest and was subjected to administrative detention for two days. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) alleged that on 17 December Giorgi Bulia created an obstruction to the movement of pedestrians in the vicinity of the Parliament of Georgia
Administrative proceedings against citizens in relation to sidewalk protests commenced following legislative amendments adopted by Georgian Dream on 12 December 2025. 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.”
In the so-called “sidewalk cases,” a total of 17 activists have already been found liable for administrative offences. Of these, nine were sentenced to administrative detention, while eight (predominantly women) received verbal warnings.
Judge Tornike Kapanadze of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced civil activist Lasha Kakoishvili to four days of administrative detention in connection with a protest conducted on a sidewalk. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that, during a protest held on 18 December 2025, Kakoishvili created an obstruction for other citizens.
Kakoishvili represents the fifteenth individual found liable in cases related to sidewalk protests. Of the fifteen individuals concerned, eight were subjected to administrative detention, with sanctions ranging from four to five days, while seven others – predominantly women – received verbal warnings.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.”
