Merab Merkviladze, a journalist for “Radio Tbilisi,” was fined twice, totaling 10,000 lari. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accuses him of “artificially blocking the road” on March 18 and 19. The journalist appealed the fines, but the case has not yet been reviewed.

Georgian Dream increased the amount of fines in the context of the pro-European protests that began after November 28. According to amendments made to Georgia’s Code of Administrative Offence, the fine for illegally blocking a roadway has been increased tenfold from 500 GEL to 5,000 GEL.