Context
The incidents documented in March 2025 demonstrate that the practice of exerting pressure on civil activists continues to maintain a systemic character and manifests itself in various forms. The incidents recorded during the reporting period reflect administrative detentions, incidents of physical violence, the active use of financial sanctions, as well as the use of criminal law mechanisms, including restrictions imposed on the financial activities of organisations associated with activists.
A significant portion of the documented cases is linked to citizens’ participation in protest demonstrations and the expression of public opinions. Particularly notable are the scale and intensity of financial sanctions. In many cases, fines were imposed on allegations of blocking roadways and, in a number of instances, were based on disputed or insufficient evidence. At the same time, cases were documented in which the actions of law enforcement authorities and judicial decisions failed to take into account the circumstances presented by the defence.
Particular attention should be paid to the freezing of the accounts of charitable foundations supporting activists and the protest movement during the reporting period. This indicates that the practice of pressure extends not only to individual activists but also to organisations providing support to individuals whose rights have allegedly been violated. Taken together, these trends significantly restrict civic space and seriously undermine the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.
Incidents
On 3 March 2025, musician and civil activist Davit (Tornado) Gabunia was physically assaulted and verbally abused in the street. According to information circulated on social media, Gabunia was attacked by Mikha Meskhi, the husband of singer Sopho Bedia. Mikha Meskhi subsequently confirmed this information in a comment posted under a Facebook post published by another user.
On 5 March 2025, Barbara Rokita and Kristine Pirveli, founders of “Crab Coffee” and civil activists, were verbally abused and then physically assaulted by a young man near their residence late at night. As a result of the attack, Barbara sustained a broken nose and required surgery. Since the protests of 28 November 2024, the founders of Crab Coffee had been providing coffee and tea free of charge to participants in pro-European demonstrations. The activists believe that the attack was motivated by their active involvement in the pro-European protest movement.
On 7 March 2025, the Patrol Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained members of “Strong Georgia” – Beka Beridzishvili, Juba Loladze and Oto Parulava. One of the party’s leaders, Irakli Kupradze, was also present with them. Video footage of the incident shows that members of Strong Georgia were returning home from a protest on Rustaveli Avenue when they were stopped by patrol police officers. Irakli Kupradze asked the officers to explain the reason for the stop, at which point he was forcibly placed into a police vehicle and detained.
On 11 March 2025, Judge Mariana Pomaeva of the Batumi City Court imposed fines of GEL 5,000 each on 18 participants in pro-European demonstrations. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused the activists, under Article 174(4) of the Code of Administrative Offences, of “artificially creating a barrier through intensive movement” on a pedestrian crossing. Those fined included Diana Bolkvadze, Tamar Surmanidze, Badri Kochalidze, Archil Beridze, Natia Letodiani, Davit Robakidze, Manuchar Khozrevanidze, Keti Paksadze, Mariam Saginadze, Nugzar Tapladze, Tatia Abuladze, Linda Tsintsadze, Archil Shotadze, Giorgi Chkhaidze, Elizbar Chkhikvadze, Gocha Surguladze and Ana Vacheishvili.
On 12 March 2025, Judge Aleksandre Goguadze of the Batumi City Court fined participants in pro-European demonstrations – actor Malkhaz Iremadze, Mariam Gogolishvili, Mari Tsetskhladze and Niko Mirtskhulava – GEL 5,000 each for an act provided for under Article 174(4) of the Code of Administrative Offences. The activists were accused of “artificially creating a barrier through intensive movement” on a pedestrian crossing in Batumi during the night of 31 January.
On 12 March 2025, Judge Jumber Bejanidze of the Batumi City Court fined civil activist Gubaz Lamparadze GEL 5,000 in the so-called “zebra crossing movement case”. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused the activist, under Article 174(4) of the Code of Administrative Offences, of “artificially creating a barrier through intensive movement” on a pedestrian crossing.
On 17 March 2025, at the request of the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, the Tbilisi City Court ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of charitable foundations that had assisted citizens who had been allegedly unlawfully fined for participating in pro-European demonstrations by helping them pay fines and by providing financial assistance to so-called “prisoners of conscience” and their families.
The following organisations were affected by the freezing order:
- Charitable Foundation “Nanuka’s Fund”;
- Charitable Foundation “Prosperity”;
- Charitable Foundation “Fund for Each Other 24/7”;
- Non-Governmental Organisation “Tbilisi Human Rights House”;
- Non-Governmental Organisation “Shame”.
According to a statement issued by the Prosecutor’s Office, the foundations were frozen within the framework of an investigation initiated on the basis of an application submitted by “United Neutral Georgia”, a satellite organisation affiliated with Georgian Dream. The freezing order was authorised by Judge Mzia Garshaulishvili, who was appointed to the Criminal Chamber of the Tbilisi City Court in December 2024.
On 18 March 2025, the Tbilisi City Court rejected the request of Temur Katamadze, the flag-bearer of the Batumi protests, to be granted refugee status, as well as humanitarian or subsidiary protection status, during a hearing held on 18 March.
On 19 March 2025, the family of prisoner of conscience Zviad Tsetskhladze was fined for the ninth time. Tsetskhladze’s mother, Nargizi Davitadze, stated on TV Pirveli that the Ministry of Internal Affairs accused her of “artificially blocking the roadway” under Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences. According to Davitadze, there had been several occasions when they had not even been present on Rustaveli Avenue, yet financial sanctions had nevertheless been imposed on them by the Ministry.
On 19 March 2025, Marizi Kobakhidze, the mother of prisoner of conscience Tornike Goshadze, was fined GEL 5,000 by Judge Manuchar Tsatsua. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused her of artificially blocking the roadway on Rustaveli Avenue on 23 January under Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences. It is noteworthy, however, that Rustaveli Avenue had become blocked naturally due to the large number of people present.
On 19 March 2025, Judge Koba Chagunava fined tour guide Aleksandre Giorgadze GEL 5,000. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused the active protest participant of blocking a roadway on 3 January under Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences. However, during the hearing, the Ministry failed to present any evidence substantiating the allegation.
On 19 March 2025, Judge Koba Chagunava found actor Sandro Samkharadze liable for an administrative offence and issued him an oral warning. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused him of carrying a prohibited item during a protest held on 25 November 2024.
On 21 March 2025, during a protest on Rustaveli Avenue, police detained three activists – Tako Gvilia, Tatia Apriamashvili and Luka Gogia. Police began detaining activists outside Parliament after citizens had brought plastic chairs for young demonstrators standing in heavy rain, but representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs confiscated the chairs. Tako Gvilia told TV Pirveli that she was initially discussing the issue of the chairs with police officers when she was suddenly seized and forcibly placed in a detention vehicle together with Tatia Apriamashvili. Notably, Luka Gogia, a student at Ilia State University, was detained after applauding the police following the detention of the two women. Tatia Apriamashvili and Tako Gvilia were later released on the basis of a written undertaking, while Luka Gogia was released from a temporary detention facility on 22 March.
On 21 March 2025, the court fined Tsotne Koberidze, a member of the Coalition for Change, GEL 2,000. According to the political party Girchi – More Freedom, Georgian Dream accused Tsotne Koberidze of obstructing the detention of another individual and insulting a police officer.