Legal incident

Following a repeated attack on journalist Koba Partenadze, he was placed under administrative arrest

On August 16, in Batumi’s Europe Square, Adjara Public Broadcaster journalist and meteorologist Koba Partenadze was attacked again. According to Partenadze, police officers and an emergency medical service team were present at the scene.

This is not the first instance of an attack and threats against Koba Partenadze. Previously, Partenadze shared a video on social media where an unknown man can be heard threatening to take him aside and stab him. Two individuals were arrested in connection with this case. Later, the Batumi City Court imposed a bail of 7,000 GEL each as a preventive measure on the two individuals accused in the case involving violence and the threat of stabbing carried out against Partenadze.

On August 17, reports emerged that Koba Partenadze himself had been arrested. According to his lawyer, Partenadze was placed under administrative arrest at the 2nd division of the Batumi City Police Department and is currently being held in the Zestaponi temporary detention center. The lawyer stated that they are clarifying the grounds and motive for the arrest at this stage.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Partenadze was arrested on the grounds of petty hooliganism and disobedience to a lawful police demand. The agency stated that on August 16, while being interviewed as a witness in a criminal case related to him, Partenadze verbally abused law enforcement officers, which led to the initiation of administrative proceedings. The MIA also stated that during the night hours of August 17, Partenadze was disturbing public order in Batumi with loud cursing and swearing, refused to obey the demands of police officers, and insulted them.

On August 18, Judge Aleksandre Goguadze found Koba Partenadze guilty of an administrative offense and fined him 2,000 GEL.

ComCom Fines TV Pirveli for Second Content Violation

The Communications Commission (ComCom) has fined TV Pirveli for the second time for violating provisions of the Law on Broadcasting related to content regulation. The broadcaster was fined GEL 5,000.

The case was considered under amendments to the Law on Broadcasting adopted by Georgian Dream, which significantly tightened content-regulation requirements for broadcasters. Among other provisions, the amendments introduced restrictions on the expression of editorial positions in news and socio-political programs, new rules governing the right of reply, and standards related to covert recording.

The Commission’s monitoring covered news broadcasts aired on July 27–28. According to ComCom, the broadcasts contained instances in which news was presented through personal attitudes or opinions and factual information was not reported with sufficient accuracy. The Commission identified expressions such as “organized a big hunt,” “scroll-screen agency,” “Chechen-type squad,” “hunting activists,” and “the police were fooled by their nerves” as problematic.

ComCom specifically found a violation in the report “People Have Begun to Be Detained,” aired during TV Pirveli’s 20:00 news broadcast on July 27. According to the Commission, the journalist’s interpretation of a conversation between police officers failed to meet the required standard of factual accuracy.

Currently, TV Pirveli and Formula have each received two fines under the content-regulation provisions. If ComCom finds another violation by TV Pirveli, it will have the authority to consider suspending the broadcaster’s authorization or imposing a higher fine of no less than GEL 10,000 and no more than 3% of the company’s annual revenue.

According to the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics, ComCom continues to exert pressure on television broadcasters over the use of terminology deemed unacceptable by Georgian Dream. The Charter argues that, following the amendments to the Law on Broadcasting adopted in March 2025, the Commission has increasingly used proactive media monitoring as an instrument of pressure on editorial policy, undermining broadcasters’ ability to maintain independent editorial decision-making.

Vakho Sanaia was sentenced to prison over a status he posted on social media

On July 22, Zviad Tsekvava of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced journalist Vakho Sanaia to 14 days in prison over a status posted on a social network. Previously, Vakho Sanaia had already been fined for a post written on Facebook.

The case concerned posts published on social media by Vakho Sanaia regarding the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, and MP Lado Bojadze.

This is the first instance of a journalist being sentenced to imprisonment for a status written on a social network.

Administrative disputes against citizens over opinions expressed in public spaces are initiated based on reports from the newly created “Division for Combatting Hate Speech” within the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). The new division has been operating within the MIA since June 1. The division’s task is to monitor and proactively detect statements disseminated in the public sphere that degrade human dignity, are insulting, or contain hate speech, if they exhibit signs of an administrative offense.

The Communications Commission is accusing ‘Formula’ of an alleged content regulation violation for the third time

For the third time, the Communications Commission is disputing an alleged violation of the “Law on Broadcasting” by the television company “Formula.” The Commission discussed the issue at its July 17 session and fined “Formula” 5,000 GEL.

According to the Commission’s assessment, “Formula” violated Article 54 of the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting – “Fairness and Impartiality.” According to the official report, the monitoring of the 17:00 broadcasts of Formula News was conducted between June 15 and 17. The Commission considers that journalists in these news broadcasts occasionally expressed personal opinions and attitudes regarding current events, as “Formula” systematically uses phrases in the disputed segments such as: “the ‘Dream’ government,” “the ‘Georgian Dream’ President,” “‘Dream’s’ Prosecutor’s Office,” “‘Dream’s’ Prime Minister,” “‘Dream’s’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” “repressive laws,” and “repressions of the ‘Dream’ regime.”

At this stage, the Commission only applied a fine and did not resort to an alternative sanction, which, according to the legislation, involves suspending the television station’s broadcasting authorization. If the Commission establishes another violation by “Formula,” it will again be authorized to consider suspending the station’s broadcasting authorization or imposing an increased fine—not less than 10,000 GEL and not exceeding 3% of the company’s annual income. For the use of similar terms, the Communications Commission had already fined “Formula” 2,500 GEL on May 21 for violating the same article.

The case is being considered against the backdrop of recent, controversial amendments to the “Law on Broadcasting” concerning the content regulation of broadcasters. Under these amendments, expressing personal positions is restricted in news programs and during the coverage of public policy issues (with the exception of author-driven editorial programs). Additionally, new rules were established regarding the right of reply and the gathering and dissemination of information through covert methods.

On March 6, the Communications Commission announced that it would begin enforcing the norms established by the “Law on Broadcasting” and the “Broadcasters’ Code of Conduct” in practice and would start monitoring broadcasters. At the time, the Commission pointed out that for almost a year, it had only reacted to complaints and had not initiated administrative proceedings against broadcasters on its own initiative.

The court upheld Goga Khaindrava’s lawsuit and ordered ‘Formula’ to pay 10,000 GEL

On July 14, the Tbilisi City Court upheld the civil lawsuit of Giorgi (Goga) Khaindrava, a director and supporter of “Georgian Dream,” against the television company “Formula.” The decision was made by Judge Liana Kazhashvili. The court ordered “Formula” to pay 10,000 GEL on the grounds of causing “moral damage” and instructed it to retract on its own air the “information defaming the name, honor, and dignity” of the plaintiff.

The dispute concerned reports aired on “Shabatis Formula” (Saturday’s Formula) on December 20, 2025, and January 17, 2026. In the January 17 report, “Formula,” citing a source, disseminated information that in 2016-2017, Goga Khaindrava, in possible agreement with the State Security Service, brought citizens of India and Pakistan into Georgia in exchange for a certain amount of money.

Khaindrava claimed that the report spread “fundamentally false” information intended to deliberately mislead the public. “Formula’s” lawyer, Eto Katamadze, assessed the decision as unsubstantiated and stated that the television company will fully utilize the legal mechanisms available within the country, after which it will likely continue the dispute in Strasbourg.

Because of this same report, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia launched an investigation involving the television company “Formula” under Part 1 of Article 373 of the Criminal Code, which implies false denunciation. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation concerns the fact of a possible crime committed by “Formula” against Goga Khaindrava. Within the framework of this investigation, “Formula” journalists Natuka Lomadze, Misho Martashvili, and Davit Kashiashvili were summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office for questioning.

TV Host Vakho Sanaia Fined Over Social Media Posts

Tbilisi City Court Judge Tornike Kochkian has fined Vakho Sanaia, a journalist and TV host for the “Formula” television company, 6,000 GEL for opinions he expressed on a social network. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) accused the journalist of insulting state political officials. Social media posts published by Vakho Sanaia regarding the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, and Member of Parliament, Lado Bozhadze, were ruled to be administrative offenses.

Sanaia had already been fined 4,000 GEL once before for an opinion expressed on a social network. Therefore, the judge made the decision in accordance with the article designated for a repeat offense.

Administrative disputes against citizens for opinions expressed in public spaces are initiated based on protocols from the newly established “Department for the Fight Against Hate Speech” within the MIA. This new department has been operational within the Ministry of Internal Affairs since June 1. The department’s task is to monitor and proactively detect statements in the public sphere that damage human dignity, are insulting, or contain hate speech, provided they show signs of an administrative offense.

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, between its launch and July 2, this department identified 170 alleged offenses, 150 of which have already been submitted to the court. Out of these 150 cases, decisions have already been made on 33—resulting in 31 individuals being fined and two receiving verbal warnings. The majority of those fined are citizens and activists. Vakho Sanaia is the first journalist to be fined based on a protocol from this department.

Misho Martashvili, a camera operator and the third ‘Formula’ employee, has been summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia

Within the scope of the criminal case launched against the “Formula” television company, a third employee of the channel, camera operator Misho Martashvili, was also summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia for questioning.

Following his questioning, the host of Shabatis Formula told Media Checker that by interviewing the camera operator, the Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office had concluded its questioning of everyone who could potentially provide any kind of information to the investigation.

As a reminder, on June 16, 2026, the Investigative Division of the Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal case against Formula TV under Article 373, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to false denunciation (false accusation). The investigation was initiated based on a statement filed by Goga Khaindrava, a film director and supporter of the “Georgian Dream” party. He accuses “Formula” of falsely implicating him in a potential crime. The case concerns reports broadcast on Shabatis Formula on December 20, 2025, and January 17, 2026. According to the source in these reports, Goga Khaindrava was bringing foreign citizens into Georgia in exchange for money. Reportedly, the Prosecutor’s Office is disputing the false denunciation against Formula’s source.

Within the scope of the same case, the author and host of the program, Davit Kashiashvili, and the journalist who authored the report, Natuka Lomidze, have already been questioned at the Prosecutor’s Office.

Due to the same reports, Goga Khaindrava also has an ongoing civil dispute against “Formula.” He is suing the television company for defamation and is demanding 10,000 GEL in compensation for moral damages.

Formula TV journalist Natuka Lomadze summoned to Prosecutor’s Office

Within the scope of the criminal case launched against the “Formula” television company, another journalist from the channel and author of the report, Natuka Lomadze, was summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia. The journalist’s questioning lasted for three hours.

“The investigator was interested in how I, as a journalist, worked on this report. Who were the people with whom I attempted to verify the information our source was telling us? Of course, there were many such people,” the journalist told Media Checker.

On June 16, 2026, the Investigative Division of the Tbilisi Prosecutor’s Office launched a criminal case against Formula TV under Article 373, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to false denunciation (false accusation). The investigation was initiated based on a statement filed by Goga Khaindrava, a film director and supporter of the “Georgian Dream” party. He accuses “Formula” of falsely implicating him in a potential crime. The case concerns reports broadcast on the show Shabatis Formula (Saturday’s Formula) on December 20, 2025, and January 17, 2026. According to the source in these reports, Goga Khaindrava was bringing foreign citizens into Georgia in exchange for money. Reportedly, the Prosecutor’s Office is disputing the false denunciation against Formula’s source.

Within the scope of the same case, the author and host of the program, Davit Kashiashvili, was also questioned at the Prosecutor’s Office.

Incidents Recorded Against Civil Activists – September 2025

Context

The incidents documented in September 2025 indicate a further intensification of repressive practices against civil activists and individuals associated with the protest movement. During the reporting period, the use of imprisonment and criminal prosecution against participants in pro-European protests was particularly notable, including the imposition of multi-year prison sentences on individuals accused of participating in group actions, drug-related offences, and other criminal offences. In numerous cases, the accused stated that the criminal proceedings were linked to their participation in the protests.

The documented cases also included administrative arrests, the imposition of financial sanctions, incidents of physical violence and intimidation, including group attacks against activists and threatening incidents. Certain episodes also revealed restrictions on the freedoms of assembly and expression, where law enforcement officers prevented demonstrators from exercising their right to protest or used force against them.

At the same time, investigative actions against non-governmental organisations and their representatives continued within the framework of the so-called “Masks Case”, targeting activities related to supporting civil society.

Incidents

On 2 September 2025, Judge Jvebe Nachkebia of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Anton Chechin, who had been detained during the pro-European protests on drug-related charges, to 8 years and 6 months’ imprisonment. Chechin had been charged with the possession of a particularly large quantity of narcotic substances. He denies the charges and claims that the narcotics were planted on him because of his participation in the protests. He was arrested on 3 December. According to Chechin, his arrest had been preceded by an incident on 18 November, when he was taken from a protest to a police station and threatened with consequences if he continued participating in demonstrations.

On 2 September 2025, during a protest held on Rustaveli Avenue outside the Parliament building, where demonstrators were protesting statements made by Tea Tsulukiani within the framework of the Georgian Dream parliamentary investigative commission, the Ministry of Internal Affairs administratively detained 23 individuals. Protesters attempted to block the roadway, but law enforcement officers prevented them from doing so and forcibly detained several individuals on the pavement. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, those detained had failed to comply with lawful police orders.

On 3 September 2025, Judge Tamar Mchedlishvili of the Tbilisi City Court reclassified the charges against all eight defendants detained in connection with the pro-European protests and found them guilty under Article 226 of the Criminal Code, which concerns the organisation of or participation in group actions.

Three of them—Zviad Tsetskhladze, Vefkhia Kasradze, and Vasil Kadzelashvili—were sentenced to 2 years and 6 months’ imprisonment. The prosecution had originally charged all three under Article 225(1) of the Criminal Code with organising group violence.

The remaining five defendants—Irakli Miminoshvili, Giorgi Gorgadze, Tornike Goshadze, Insaf Aliyev, and Nikoloz Javakhishvili—were each sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment. They had originally been charged under Article 225(2)of the Criminal Code with participation in organised group violence.

On 3 September 2025, Judge Nino Galustashvili of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced all eleven defendants detained in connection with the pro-European protests—Revaz Kiknadze, Valeri Tetriashvili, Giorgi Terishvili, Andro Chichinadze, Onise Tskhadadze, Ruslan Sivakov, Irakli Kerashvili, Luka Jabuia, Jano Archaia, Sergei Kukharchuk, and Guri Mirtskhulava—to 2 years’ imprisonment each.

The prosecution had charged all eleven under Article 225(2) of the Criminal Code with participation in organised group violence. As in the case of the previous eight defendants, Judge Galustashvili reclassified the charges and found them guilty under Article 226 of the Criminal Code, concerning the organisation of or participation in group actions.

On 3 September 2025, Judge Jvebe Nachkebia of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Saba Skhvitaridze, who had been detained during the pro-European protests, to 2 years’ imprisonment. Initially, the prosecution accused him of assaulting police officer Mirian Kavtaradze. However, on 24 July, the Prosecutor’s Office reclassified the charge to intentional minor bodily injury under Article 120(1) of the Criminal Code.

On 3 September 2025, activist Mariam Meqantsishvili was assaulted by Beka Gotsiridze, a supporter of Georgian Dream. According to Meqantsishvili, while she was on Melikishvili Avenue, where a protest march coincided with the opening of Kakha Kaladze’s election headquarters, Gotsiridze threw a cigarette butt at her and struck her.

On 4 September 2025, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced activist Albi Kordzaia to 12 days of administrative detention. The case concerned his detention during the 2 September protest outside Parliament, where demonstrators protested statements made by Tea Tsulukiani before the Georgian Dream parliamentary commission.

On 4 September 2025, the Tbilisi City Court examined the administrative cases of individuals detained during the 2 September protest on Rustaveli Avenue. Activists Luka Devdariani, Nika Kordzadze, and Davit Gunashvili were each fined GEL 5,000. (The source text incorrectly states “2024”; this appears to be a typographical error, as the case concerns the events of 2 September 2025.)

On 8 September 2025, supporters of Georgian Dream physically attacked demonstrators gathered outside Kakha Kaladze’s election headquarters. Video footage published by media outlets shows activists being assaulted. The confrontations continued intermittently for several hours. According to participants, despite being present at the scene, the police failed to effectively prevent the attacks, even though, according to activists, some of the perpetrators could have been identified. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that an investigation had been launched into group violence.

On 10 September 2025, Megi Diasamidze was arrested on charges of damaging one of Kakha Kaladze’s election banners. The 23-year-old activist was detained under Article 187 of the Criminal Code, which criminalises the destruction or damage of another person’s property. The offence is punishable by a fine, community service, house arrest for a period of six months to two years, or imprisonment for one to five years. On 12 September, Judge Davit Kurtanidze imposed bail of GEL 2,000 as a preventive measure, and Diasamidze was released from the courtroom.

On 12 September 2025, Judge Nino Galustashvili of the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Anastasia Zinovkina and Artem Gribul, who had been detained during the pro-European protests on drug-related charges, to 8 years and 6 months’ imprisonment each. Zinovkina and Gribul were arrested on 17 December and charged with possession of a particularly large quantity of narcotic substances. Both deny the charges and state that the narcotics were planted on them during personal and residential searches because of their participation in the protests. Both had previously participated in demonstrations against Vladimir Putin in Russia.

On 12 September 2025, public servant Tako Kavkasidze stated that she had been dismissed on political grounds. According to Kavkasidze, she had publicly distanced herself from Georgian Dream’s decision to suspend the country’s European integration process by signing a public petition. She further stated that another signatory of the same pro-European petition had also been dismissed from public service.

On 15 September 2025, participants in a protest march travelling from the building of the Public Broadcaster to the intersection of Rustaveli Avenue and Besiki Street were verbally and physically confronted by several individuals. According to activists, one of the attackers was allegedly carrying a firearm and a knife. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that, following the incident, an individual born in 2009 was arrested on charges of the illegal acquisition, possession, and carrying of firearms and ammunition.

On 23 September 2025, according to Mariam Nikuradze, Director and photojournalist of OC MEDIA, demonstrators participating in the so-called “zebra crossing protests” near the Atoneli Residence in Tbilisi were deliberately struck by a vehicle.

Nikuradze stated that activist Mariam Meqantsishvili lost consciousness twice and was transported by ambulance. A second injured person, Lizi Ubilava, was also taken to hospital. According to the police, the incident had been referred to the competent authority, although it remained unclear whether a criminal investigation had been formally initiated.

On 29 September 2025, activist Gela Khasaia, a member of Girchi – More Freedom, was arrested. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he was detained on charges of intentional minor bodily injury, and the investigation was being conducted under Article 120 of the Criminal Code. According to his lawyer, the case concerns a conflict that occurred on 1 September at Station Square involving individuals unknown to Khasaia. The lawyer further stated that while Khasaia was held at the police station, he was subjected to verbal abuse and psychological pressure. According to counsel, one police officer reminded him of an earlier incident in which the officer had threatened that Khasaia would eventually be arrested under criminal law.

The so-called “Masks Case”

Within the framework of the so-called “Masks Case”, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia summoned several representatives of civil society for questioning before a magistrate judge. On 4 September, Giorgi Mshvenieradze, Chair of the organisation Guardians of Democracy, was questioned before the Tbilisi City Court. According to him, the Prosecutor’s questions concerned his individual Facebook posts, the organisation’s financial documentation, and the organisation of the 2024 protest demonstrations.

On 8 September, Levan Natroshvili, Executive Director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), was questioned in connection with the same case.

On 17 September, Eka Gigauri, Executive Director of Transparency International Georgia, and Lela Tsiskarishvili, Chair of the Tbilisi Human Rights House and Director of the Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims (GCRT), were questioned before a magistrate judge. According to their statements, the questioning focused on activities related to the protest movement, including support provided to protesters, payment of administrative fines, legal assistance, and the procurement of various types of equipment and supplies.

The so-called “Masks Case” stems from a criminal investigation launched by the Prosecutor’s Office on 8 February 2025, conducted under Articles 318(1), 19 in conjunction with Article 318(2), Article 319, and Article 321¹(2)(a) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

Within the framework of the investigation, on 7 August, the Prosecutor’s Office froze the bank accounts of seven non-governmental organisations: the Civil Society Foundation, ISFED, IDFI, GDI, Guardians of Democracy, Sapari, and the Social Justice Center. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the organisations’ designated funds had been used to purchase equipment such as gas masks, protective goggles, face masks, face coverings, pepper spray, and other items allegedly used by protesters during violent confrontations with the police. The Prosecutor’s Office also treated the provision of legal assistance to detained and fined protesters as part of the alleged criminal conduct.

Incidents Documented Against Civil Activists – 11–31 December 2024

Context

In the second half of December, practices of legal, administrative, and indirect pressure emerged against civil activists, citizens participating in protest actions, and persons employed in the public sector. The second half of December was marked by the tightening of legislative regulations, as well as by an increase in the practice of detentions and termination of labour relations. Below is an overview of developments that took place in the second half of December, based on information disseminated in the media and publicly available sources, and it may not reflect all cases.

Tightening of laws / legislative amendments: During the reporting period, Parliament adopted two packages of legislative amendments concerning the regulation of assemblies and demonstrations, the increase of administrative sanctions, rules governing service in the police, and the legal framework of public service.

Detentions: Between 11 and 31 December, at least 16 persons were detained under administrative law, while at least 1 person was detained under criminal law.

Administrative proceedings / verbal warnings: As a result of judicial review of administrative cases, at least 4 persons were issued verbal warnings.

Financial sanctions: In administrative proceedings, financial sanctions were imposed on at least 3 persons; the total amount of fines reached GEL 6,700.

Physical violence / ill-treatment: In at least 8 cases, activists alleged physical violence or ill-treatment, including in the context of arrest, transportation, being held at police stations, or during court proceedings.

Seizure of property / personal belongings: In at least 3 cases, detentions were accompanied by the alleged unlawful seizure or non-return of personal belongings, including mobile phones.

Retention, or non-return of property/personal belongings: At least 3 distinct practices were identified, including summoning activists for questioning or “interviews,” the use of migration mechanisms against foreign nationals participating in protests, and pressure on persons employed in public service. At least 24 persons employed in the public sector had their employment contracts terminated or not renewed.

11 December

In the Parliament of Georgia, “Georgian Dream” supported in the first reading a package of legislative amendments that included regulation of pyrotechnics and amendments to the Law on Police. The amendments initiated within the package envisaged placing the import, export, production, and sale of pyrotechnic products under a special permit regime. In addition, pyrotechnics were added to the list of items that would be prohibited to possess during demonstrations. The amendments to the Law on Police included in the same package regulated the rules for recruitment to the police, including the possibility of appointment without a special competition under conditions determined by an order of the Minister.

On 11 December, non-governmental organizations disseminated a joint statement, according to which the police were forcibly taking some citizens for questioning. The practice described in the statement was assessed as a possible mechanism of pressure. The organizations also indicated that, in some cases, lawyers were not given the opportunity to meet with the persons concerned.

On the same day, information was disseminated that foreign nationals participating in protest actions were being summoned to the Migration Department. According to the Social Justice Center, based on information received in recent days through the hotline of the legal aid network of non-governmental organizations, foreign nationals participating in protest actions were being summoned to the Migration Department. In parallel, according to reported information, one of the persons who appeared at the Migration Department was forced to leave the territory of Georgia through another country. The organization noted that the expulsion of foreign nationals from the country for participating in peaceful demonstrations does not comply with national legislation and international standards.

On 11 December, in Bolnisi Municipality, public school teacher and civil activist Pikria Epitashvili was attacked. According to reports, an unknown person approached Epitashvili and cut her in the facial area with a razor. Information about the incident was initially disseminated on social media. Epitashvili herself publicly stated that she had received medical assistance and that an investigation had been launched into the incident. In her published statement, the incident was assessed as an act of violence and intimidation linked to the ongoing developments in the country and to her civic position.

12 December

Guram Khutashvili was arrested on 11 December. He is charged with damaging 112 surveillance cameras, which provides for imprisonment from 3 to 6 years. The accused remains in pre-trial detention despite his confession, remorse, and readiness to compensate for the damage. According to the defence, under these circumstances, the use of detention has a punitive character. According to the case file, the accused states that damaging the cameras had not been his aim. Guram Khutashvili’s case was joined with the case of Daniel Mumladze, who was arrested on 9 December. Although the cases concern the qualification of a group offence, the court hearings on the imposition of preventive measures were held separately. The merits hearing will proceed in one set of proceedings.

On 12 December, in Tbilisi, Rondeli Foundation researcher Vato Bzhalava was detained under administrative-offence proceedings on the basis of Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences: disobedience to a police order. According to reports, he was taken on Irakli Abashidze Street while walking his dog. According to the defence, after the detention, possible physical violence was used against Bzhalava at the police station and he was asked to provide the password to his phone. The administrative offence protocol referred to resistance; however, according to disseminated video footage, the detained person followed law enforcement officers without resistance.

In Tbilisi, poet Zviad Ratiani was attacked near the entrance of his residential building. According to him, several persons physically assaulted him, as a result of which he sustained injuries. Ratiani had previously been detained under administrative-offence proceedings at the protest action on 29 November. The court sentenced him to 8 days of administrative detention, and he was released on 9 December.

13 December

The Parliament of Georgia adopted amendments to the Law on Public Service under an expedited procedure, in three readings. The amendments concerned the rules for appointment to vacant positions, mechanisms for the evaluation of civil servants, and the regulation of reorganization. The law determined that heads of primary structural units and their deputies would become persons employed under administrative contracts. According to government representatives, the amendments do not automatically result in the termination of service relations, and after reorganization, the results of a competition will determine the status of employees.

The amendments were critically assessed by lawyers and civil society. According to the assessments expressed, the new regulations reduce labour protection guarantees for public servants, change evaluation rules, and limit the effectiveness of judicial control. According to non-governmental organizations, including GYLA, the amendments weaken mechanisms for the protection of rights and increase the risk of politicization of public service. The Public Defender also criticized both the legislative process and the content of the adopted norms, particularly with regard to the abolition of reinstatement rights for persons dismissed on the basis of reorganization.

On the same day, the Parliament of Georgia adopted, under an expedited procedure, a package of legislative amendments that significantly changes regulations related to assemblies and demonstrations, administrative sanctions, and rules of service in the police. The package combines amendments to several laws, including the Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations, the Code of Administrative Offences, and the Law on Police.

The amendments prohibited participants of an assembly or demonstration from carrying pyrotechnics, laser devices, or devices with sharp radiation, as well as from covering the face with a mask or other means. The law determined that the list of persons for whom covering the face will be permissible will be established by the Minister of Internal Affairs. These restrictions will enter into force immediately upon publication.

The amendment to the Law on Police determined that the rules and conditions for recruitment to the police without a special competition will be established by an order of the Minister.

The amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences significantly increased fines for various offences, including violations of the rules on assemblies, vandalism, and actions related to blocking roads. The legal grounds for administrative detention and the confiscation of items were also expanded.

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association assessed these amendments as legislative initiatives of an undemocratic and repressive nature.

14 December

Tbilisi City Court sentenced Vato Bzhalava to 4 days of administrative detention. He had been detained in Tbilisi on Irakli Abashidze Street on 12 December, on the basis of Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences. At the court hearing, Bzhalava stated that he had not resisted law enforcement officers during the detention. According to him, at the police station, one of the officers physically assaulted him and demanded the code to his mobile phone.

According to the party “Droa,” party member and political activist Niko Kvatsabaia was detained under administrative-offence proceedings. Initially, the party indicated that his whereabouts were unknown. Later, according to the lawyer, it was confirmed that Kvatsabaia had been detained under administrative-offence proceedings on the basis of Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences. He was transferred to the Dighomi detention facility. According to the defence, the detained person had no injuries.

15 December

According to the lawyer, activist Niko Managadze was detained under administrative-offence proceedings on the basis of Article 173, paragraph 1, of the Code of Administrative Offences. According to reports, the detention took place on Kostava Street in Tbilisi, when he was returning from a protest. According to the defence, Managadze was detained by persons dressed in civilian clothes. According to the lawyer, after the detention, one of the persons entered where he was held and was rudely asking him why he went to protests and how long he intended to continue doing so. In addition, a few hours before the detention, Managadze had been summoned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for questioning. The activist refused to appear at the department and requested questioning before a magistrate judge.

16 December

On 16 December, a number of statements were disseminated through the media and social networks, according to which demonstrators indicated that, during detentions and the dispersal of protests, their personal belongings, including mobile phones, had been confiscated. Some respondents described cases in which, according to them, the confiscation of items took place without any procedural documentation and by unidentified, often masked, persons. Demonstrators, including Giorgi Bregvadze, Besik Liparteliani, Gia Jvarsheishvili, and Salome Zandukeli, spoke about this practice. Activists also stated that, through special applications, the location of their devices was being registered near administrative buildings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Non-governmental organizations publicly assessed this practice as possible cases of unlawful confiscation or appropriation and indicated that, in the event of a legal assessment, such actions may contain elements of both property-related and official misconduct offences. According to them, in some cases the confiscation of items was not reflected in the relevant protocols, while the victims did not have their belongings returned after release.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs denied the allegations disseminated and stated that the police acted within the powers granted by legislation. According to the agency, on the basis of the Law on Police and the Code of Administrative Offences, the police have the right, in cases provided for by law, to temporarily confiscate an item from a person. According to the Ministry, personal belongings lawfully confiscated are returned to detainees immediately upon release.

The court hearing in the case of Davit Gogilashvili was held on 17 December. Gogilashvili is detained on the basis of Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which concerns disobedience to a police order. He was detained at a protest action on 30 November. According to media reports, after the detention, Gogilashvili was transferred to a medical facility; he had a head trauma and injuries to the face. Gogilashvili indicates that physical violence was used against him during the detention. According to him, he was detained by the special-purpose unit, severely beaten, locked in a minibus for 9 hours while bleeding, and ultimately robbed as well. Despite these circumstances, law enforcement bodies allege that he committed an administrative offence.

19 December

A court hearing was held at Tbilisi City Court in the case of protest participant Giorgi Chutkerashvili. He was found to have committed an administrative offence under Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences and was fined GEL 2,000.

At the court hearing, Chutkerashvili stated that he had been detained on 2 December at the ongoing protest action on Rustaveli Avenue. According to him, the detention was carried out by members of the special-purpose unit. Chutkerashvili indicated that, during the detention, he was subjected to physical violence and ill-treatment. According to him, as a result of the detention he developed health problems, including deterioration of eyesight; he lost 20% of his vision. Chutkerashvili also stated that the injuries indicated in the official documentation did not reflect his actual condition.

Tbilisi City Court fined disability rights activist Gia Jvarsheishvili GEL 2,200 for disobedience to a police order. Jvarsheishvili was detained on 2 December on Besiki Street in Tbilisi. At the court hearing, he stated that, during the detention, he was subjected to physical violence, verbal abuse, and threats. According to him, these actions were carried out by law enforcement officers.

When Jvarsheishvili was making statements about the violence, the judge noted that these issues did not fall within the subject matter of the administrative offence hearing and indicated that the relevant agency should be addressed for a response to possible ill-treatment. According to information previously disseminated in the media, Jvarsheishvili indicated that, as a result of the detention, he sustained injuries to his health. According to the same reports, he also spoke about the confiscation of personal belongings.

20 December

According to the non-commercial legal entity “Gori Photographers’ Club,” Gori Municipality City Hall requested the termination of the contract concluded with them a few days after the opening of the installation “A City at War Does Not Apologize.” According to the organization, the termination of the contract is linked to their creative activity and freedom of expression. The club did not agree with the City Hall’s decision and announced the initiation of a legal dispute.

Later, Gori Municipality City Hall disseminated an explanation, according to which the contract was terminated on the basis of the conditions provided for in the contract. According to City Hall, the municipality had the right to terminate the agreement, while the reason for the decision was identified as the plan to establish an innovation centre in that space.

Davit Akhalkatsi, representative of the Akhaltsikhe office of the party “Akhali” and a political activist, was detained under administrative-offence proceedings. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he was detained on the basis of Articles 116 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which concern petty hooliganism and disobedience to a lawful order of a law enforcement officer. According to media reports, before the detention, a verbal confrontation was recorded between Davit Akhalkatsi and the Deputy Mayor of Akhaltsikhe. According to reports, the incident occurred during a New Year event.

23 December

Tbilisi City Court found Saba Kevkhishvili, who had been detained during the protest actions, to be an administrative offender and issued him a verbal warning. He was accused of committing an offence under Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which concerns disobedience to a lawful order of a law enforcement officer. Kevkhishvili was detained on 1 December. According to Kevkhishvili, after the detention, physical and verbal violence was used against him. According to the Social Justice Center, “as a result of severe physical assault by masked special-purpose officers, he had injuries in the facial area — fractures of the nasal and jaw bones, as well as of the eye socket, and a concussion.”

Tbilisi City Court imposed a verbal warning as an administrative liability measure on actor Giorgi Bakhutashvili, who had been detained at a protest action. At the court hearing, Bakhutashvili explained that his detention took place in circumstances where he was calling on a police officer not to detain a citizen who was unwell. According to him, he did not enter into physical contact with the law enforcement officer and only addressed him verbally. Bakhutashvili stated that the detention took place precisely during this episode.

26 December

According to reports, the labour contracts of some employees working at the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation were not renewed from 2025. According to the Ministry of Justice, contracts were terminated for approximately up to 10 employees.

Social workers Ana Endeladze and Mariam Siradze publicly stated that their contracts had been terminated. According to them, the decision was unexpected and they did not receive relevant written justification. Both indicated that there had previously been no disciplinary or professional complaints against them.

A public statement was also made by mediator Giorgi Abuladze, who linked the termination of his contract to his political position. According to him, the agency did not renew contracts with three mediators.

According to the Social Workers’ Union, the termination of contracts affected several social workers. The organization considered the process suspicious and pointed to possible politically motivated decisions. For their part, the Ministry of Justice and the agency denied political motivation and stated that the decisions were linked to the expiry of short-term contracts.

On the same day, Giga Sopromadze, coordinator of disability programmes at Tbilisi City Hall, who had worked in this position for approximately 8 years, was dismissed from his job. According to documents publicly disseminated by him, the basis for the termination of the contract was the absence of the need for a non-staff position. The document states that the programmes implemented by City Hall already have coordinators, and therefore the existence of this position is no longer necessary. The order terminating the contract was signed by Kakha Kaladze. For his part, Giga Sopromadze stated that the decision was unexpected for him and that he had not previously received any complaints related to his professional activity. Later, on 27 December, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze stated that Sopromadze’s dismissal had not been politically motivated. According to him, Sopromadze was a non-staff employee employed under a contract; the term of his contract had expired and there was no longer a need to renew it. According to publicly available information, Giga Sopromadze participated in ongoing protest actions and publicly expressed his position.

The organization Partnership for Human Rights responded to insulting and threatening messages disseminated on social media against disability rights activist and human rights defender Tatia Datashvili. According to reports, Tatia Datashvili stated that Facebook user Marina Kirtadze had disseminated insulting statements against her and sent her threatening voice messages. According to Datashvili, these actions were linked to her civic position and human rights work. According to the Partnership for Human Rights (PHR), Datashvili received insulting and threatening messages because of her activism and publicly expressed position. The organization addressed law enforcement bodies regarding this fact and requested an appropriate response.

27 December

According to the organization “Sapari,” they will provide legal assistance to Women’s March participant Ketevan Meskhi, who, according to reports, became a victim of physical violence on 25 December at Orbeliani Square. According to reports, the incident occurred during the Women’s March. According to available information, an unknown person verbally insulted participants of the march, after which he physically assaulted Ketevan Meskh. According to the victim, she sustained bodily injuries.

Former Tbilisi City Hall employee Nino Kiknadze publicly stated that the municipality terminated her labour contract. According to her, she was informed of the decision on 27 December and was told that her contract would no longer be renewed from 1 January 2025. According to Nino Kiknadze, the termination of the contract is linked to her publicly expressed political position. Kiknadze indicated that for years she had cooperated within Tbilisi City Hall on international cultural projects.

Tbilisi City Court imposed a fine of GEL 2,500 in an administrative case on Saba Skhvitaridze, who had been detained at a protest action. The decision was made by Judge Zviad Tsekvava. Administrative proceedings against Saba Skhvitaridze were conducted under Article 174¹, paragraph 4, and Articles 166 and 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which concern the artificial blocking of the carriageway, petty hooliganism, and disobedience to a lawful order of a police officer. According to the lawyer, the court examined these cases jointly. At the court hearing, Saba Skhvitaridze stated, regarding the circumstances of the detention, that his detention took place after a physical incident with the police. According to him, physical violence was used against him during the detention. During the same period, Saba Skhvitaridze was in detention within the framework of a criminal case; he had been arrested on 5 December. After the arrest, he spoke about ill-treatment by law enforcement officers.

According to information disseminated in the media, statements were made about possible pressure on some Tbilisi City Hall employees. According to an anonymous source, City Hall employees were being urged to withdraw their signatures from a public statement related to the European Union; otherwise, they were being warned about the non-renewal of labour contracts.

According to the same information, in one structural unit, a person in a managerial position was instructed to dismiss employees who had signed the statement, after which, according to reports, he left his position. Former City Hall employee Giga Sopromadze spoke publicly about these circumstances and stated that pressure was being exerted on employees who had signed the statement. According to him, the number of signatories decreased. Sopromadze referred to a relevant document, according to which the statement was initially signed by approximately 240 employees, while later the number of signatures decreased.

Tbilisi City Court found Sandro Bukia, who had been detained on 7 December, to be an administrative offender. By the decision of Judge Nino Enukidze, he was found to be an offender on the basis of Article 173 of the Code of Administrative Offences and was issued a verbal warning. According to reports, Sandro Bukia was detained on 7 December in the area surrounding Rustaveli metro station. According to media reports, the detention took place while he was moving. According to media reports, during the detention, a family member pointed to the detained person’s health condition.

According to reports, behavioural therapist Salome Mchedlidze was dismissed from the Rustavi Municipality Rehabilitation and Development Centre. According to her, the labour contract, the term of which expired on 31 December, was not renewed from 2025. Salome Mchedlidze explained that she was involved in ABA therapy and rehabilitation-habilitation programmes. According to her, the only reason given for the termination of the contract was the expiry of the contract term, while she links the decision to her political position. According to her, the contract of one more behavioural therapist was also not renewed, while two employees, according to reports, left their jobs in solidarity with them.

Tbilisi City Court released protest demonstration participant Bilal Duishvili with a verbal warning within the framework of administrative proceedings. The decision was made by Judge Zviad Tsekvava. According to reports, Bilal Duishvili was detained on 4 December during the protest action. According to available reports, during the detention process he indicated physical violence by law enforcement officers. According to the same information, his personal belongings were confiscated during the detention. According to information disseminated in the media, after the detention Bilal Duishvili was transferred to a medical facility. According to reports, he had a fractured nose, multiple bruises, and a concussion, because of which he remained in a clinic for several days.

On 27 December, Taia Makharashvili, an employee of Tbilisi City Hall’s Media Relations Service, was dismissed from City Hall. According to her, the decision was political in nature. Makharashvili stated that the official reason given to her was that her labour contract would not be renewed because the position she held had been abolished. According to her, this explanation raises doubts, especially against the background that she was among the signatories of the public statement in which City Hall employees expressed loyalty to the Constitution and European integration. Makharashvili also indicates that a few days earlier she had participated in the establishment of a trade union together with other public servants, which, in her assessment, points to the possible political motive of the decision.

On similar grounds due to the abolition of the position Lana Kardava, an employee of the Public Relations Department, was also dismissed from City Hall. Kardava wrote on social media that she views the decision in a political context and links it to the ongoing developments in the country. The series of dismissals was preceded by another case: on 26 December, after 8 years of work, Giga Sopromadze, who held the position of coordinator of disability programmes, was dismissed from City Hall. It should be noted that the statement disseminated in early December, in which City Hall employees expressed support for the course of European integration, was signed by more than 220 employees. Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze publicly called this statement “sabotage” and stated that there would be a response.

On 27 December, Mikheil Butskhrikidze, Head of the Office of the Adigeni Municipal Council, was dismissed from his position. The decision was preceded by his public statement on social media, published on 26 December. Butskhrikidze stated that he distanced himself from the decision of “Georgian Dream” regarding the suspension of the European integration process and condemned the violent dispersal of citizens’ peaceful protest.

One day after expressing his public position, he was dismissed from the Municipal Council Office. Butskhrikidze himself also disseminated information about his dismissal on social media, where he stated that he had worked in public service for more than ten years and had served the country “with a clear conscience.”

29 December

On Rustaveli Avenue, in the area surrounding Kashveti Church, the police detained protest participants. According to eyewitnesses, the demonstrators were not occupying the carriageway and it was unclear to them what became the basis for the detentions. The situation on site became tense and there was a confrontation. One of the protest participants told the media that the gathered persons were standing on the sidewalk and near the lawn, while part of the road had been blocked by the police themselves. In his assessment, law enforcement officers were detaining people through the use of force.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that 6 persons had been detained under administrative-offence proceedings. Later, the agency stated that all six detained persons had been released on the basis of a written undertaking. They were accused of petty hooliganism and disobedience to a police order. According to police officers on site, the reason for the detentions was the alleged insulting of law enforcement officers by protest participants.

According to the assessment of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, the detentions were carried out by violent methods. The organization stated that actions such as pulling hair and dragging citizens on the ground were documented, which, in its assessment, violate the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression and do not comply with legal norms.

30 December

Government Administration employee Mate Sokhadze states that his labour contract will not be renewed from January 2025. In his assessment, this decision is politically motivated.

Sokhadze writes on social media that he received information about the non-renewal of the contract at the end of December. According to him, the decision was not entirely unexpected, although he notes that he did not receive any official justification. Sokhadze links his dismissal to his public positions, including signing a statement by persons employed in the public sector and participating in protest actions. The Government Administration explains that Mate Sokhadze was a non-staff employee, the term of his contract had expired, and its renewal was not planned. The agency states that the decision is not linked to political factors and that it has no information about Sokhadze’s “political taste.”

Recently, information has been disseminated about the dismissal of a number of persons employed under labour contracts from public agencies. According to various media reports, the dismissals affected both the Crime Prevention and Probation Center and Tbilisi City Hall.

On 30 December, information was disseminated according to which some employees of the National Agency of Public Registry state that their labour contracts will not be renewed from 2025. The employees disseminated the relevant statements on social media.

One of the first persons to write publicly about the non-renewal of her contract was Ani Mamukelashvili, who noted that on 30 December an HR representative informed her of the decision. In her assessment, this step is linked to her signing of the petition of Public Registry employees. Nino Kharchilava also links her dismissal to her civic positions. According to her, for several years she was involved in the systematic land registration project and learned about the termination of her contract precisely after participating in the petition. A statement of similar content was disseminated by Sali Kapanadze, who writes that the agency ended cooperation with her after many years of work. Elza Geladze also links the decision to political circumstances and states that the official reason given to her was “the absence of a need for staff.” Fikria Ardia also speaks of a political motive, stating that the non-renewal of her contract is linked to her political views. In the same context, other agency employees — Ana Gurasashvili, Meri Tagoshvili, and Zura Gegeshidze — also write about their positions and dismissal, noting that the decision was politically motivated.