Judge Manuchar Tsatsua of the Tbilisi City Court found the Dean of the Business School at Caucasus University, Elene Jgharkava, liable for an administrative offence for standing on the sidewalk during a protest and issued her a verbal warning. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) alleged that on 17 December 2025 Jgharkava created an obstruction for pedestrians 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.”
In the so-called “sidewalk cases,” a total of 18 activists have already been found liable for administrative offences. Of these, nine were sentenced to administrative detention, while nine (predominantly women) received verbal warnings.
Judge Davit Makaridze of the Tbilisi City Court found civil activist Anastasia Dolidze liable for an administrative offence in connection with a protest held on the sidewalk and issued her a verbal warning. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) alleged that Anastasia Dolidze created an obstruction for pedestrians on the sidewalk near the Parliament of Georgia on 18 December..
Anastasia Dolidze is the sixteenth activist brought before the court on the same grounds for protesting on the sidewalk. Of these 16 individuals, eight were subjected to administrative detention – four of them for four days and others for five days – while eight individuals (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. 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.”
Shalva Javakhia, a history teacher, political activist, and member of the political party “Federalists,” was found liable for an administrative offence in connection with a protest conducted on a sidewalk. The court imposed a verbal warning. The decision was issued by Judge Manuchar Tsatsua.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that on 18 December 2025, Shalva Javakhia obstructed the movement of the public while standing on the sidewalk outside the Parliament building.
Shalva Javakhia is the tenth individual to have been found liable in proceedings related to sidewalk protests. Of the ten cases to date, five individuals were sentenced to administrative detention for periods of four and five days, while in five cases the courts imposed verbal warnings.
On 12 December 2025, the “Georgian Dream” party adopted another repressive legislative amendment restricting the right to freedom of assembly. 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.”
Judge Manuchar Tsatsua of the Tbilisi City Court found civil activist and protest participant Natashi Lazishvili liable for an administrative offence for standing on a sidewalk and imposed a verbal warning as a sanction. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleged that on 18 December 2025, while standing on the sidewalk near the Parliament building, she deliberately obstructed the movement of citizens.
Natashi Lazishvili is the ninth individual to have been found liable for standing on a sidewalk in connection with protest activities. Of the nine cases to date, five individuals were sentenced to administrative detention, while four individuals including three women and Rezi Dumbadze, the first person found liable for standing on a sidewalk were issued verbal warnings.
On 12 December 2025, the “Georgian Dream” party adopted another repressive legislative amendment restricting the right to freedom of assembly. 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.”
The Director General of the Public Broadcaster, Tinatin Berdzenishvili, issued a reprimand to Givi Chimakadze, a studio operator in the Technical and Technology Operations Group, for disseminating a statement on social media.
Tinatin Berdzenishvili also warned Givi Chimakadze about possible dismissal from his job “in the event of a similar and/or other type of violation.”
Information about the order was disseminated via social media by “Guardians of the Public Broadcaster.” The document, signed by Tinatin Berdzenishvili, is dated February 11.
In 2025, employees critical of the channel were dismissed from the First Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, including Vasil Ivanov-Chikovani, a journalist and anchor of the news program “Moambe,” Nino Zautashvili, author and host of the socio-political program “Realuri Sivrtse,” and director Kakha Melikidze. The channel’s management reportedly adopted a negative stance toward Melikidze after he publicly exposed the broadcaster’s leadership. According to Melikidze, the management pressured him to frequently show officials of “Georgian Dream,” including Irakli Kobakhidze, during broadcasts of national team football matches.
The Speaker of Parliament from “Georgian Dream,” Shalva Papuashvili, verbally insulted the television company “Formula” and journalist Salome Labadze.
The question posed by the “Formula” journalist concerned Georgia’s national hero, Maro Makashvili.
In response to the question, “Who killed Maro Makashvili?”, Shalva Papuashvili called the “Formula” journalist “shameful” and “funded by Kezerashvili.”
“You and your television channel spread shameful propaganda that seeks political speculation. I will not answer any such questions,” Papuashvili said (5:29 min).
Among politicians from “Georgian Dream” who verbally insult journalists from critical media, Shalva Papuashvili is the most active, and CMIS has documented numerous examples of this behavior.
On January 26, 2026, Formula TV journalist Nano Chakvetadze had her phone confiscated, the footage recorded on site was deleted, and she was threatened with arrest.
According to information reported by the media, a Formula journalist was covering the death of an employee of the Anti-Corruption Agency near the building of the State Security Service (SSS), when the media representative was obstructed while performing her professional duties.
“We tried to film footage and ask questions to investigators, but first they forcibly took our phone, and then, again using force, made us leave the area,” says Formula TV journalist Nano Chakvetadze.
The incident was addressed by the Media Advocacy Coalition. “Pressure on journalists and the unlawful restriction of their work constitute a gross violation of media freedom. We stand in solidarity with Nano Chakvetadze and all representatives of independent media who are forced to work and inform the public in an extremely challenging environment,” the coalition’s statement reads.
On January 22, the Communications Commission issued a written warning to “Radio Marneuli” over receiving a grant. The Commission’s decision was based on the repressive amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which prohibit media outlets from receiving grants from donor organizations.
The Commission’s statement noted that the media outlet had received a grant of 32,542 GEL from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
“The funds were received as part of a grant project and did not fall under the exceptions defined by the Law on Broadcasting, such as commercial advertising, teleshopping, sponsorship, or product placement in programming,” the statement said.
This is the second warning issued to “Radio Marneuli.”
In the first case, the Commission had warned the media outlet over a grant received from Deutsche Welle.
A series of repressive laws were passed by the Parliament under the ruling party, Georgian Dream, including a provision effective from April 1, 2025, banning direct or indirect funding of broadcasters from “foreign forces.”
The amendments were immediately criticized by civil society and independent media, as the provision could be used as a tool to restrict the financial and editorial independence of independent media.
The Speaker of Parliament from “Georgian Dream“, Shalva Papuashvili, responded to a report aired on the pro-government TV channel Imedi targeting the association of independent online media outlets, Light Media, attempting to discredit and intimidate them.
Shalva Papuashvili said that online media outlets are bypassing the law and accused them of committing “criminal” offenses.
“[Online media outlets] invent schemes to circumvent legislation, and part of this scheme involves violating restrictions when money moves undeclared across the territory of Georgia. Therefore, of course, attention must be paid to all of this. Those whose competence this falls under are monitoring these processes. Wherever they detect signs of a crime, there will be an appropriate response,” said Shalva Papuashvili.
On November 23, the pro-government TV channel Imedi aired a propagandistic report against Light Media. Light Media is a coalition of 22 independent online media outlets formed after laws and legislative changes adopted by the Georgian Dream parliament placed online media in a dire situation. The report broadcast on Imedi, aimed at discrediting these outlets, claimed that the media were supposedly working on the orders of “foreign intelligence services” and were engaged in “anti-state” activities.
The Public Relations Department of the Georgian Patriarchate announced that on October 14, due to a violation of internal regulations, the film crews of the TV companies “TV Pirveli” and “Formula” will not be accredited for the upcoming church holidays.
“Today, October 14, for violating the internal regulations in the courtyard of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, under the pretext of journalistic activity, despite repeated warnings, and for arbitrarily leaving the space allocated for the press, the film crews of TV Pirveli and TV Formula will not be accredited for the upcoming church holidays,” the statement said.
The Patriarchate has imposed additional regulations for the media since 2022. Journalists need to obtain special accreditation to cover church events, and they can only work in zones specially designated for the media.
