Tbilisi

GYLA Suspends Part of Its Free Legal Aid Programs Amid Legislative Changes

According to the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), legislative amendments adopted since 2024, coupled with an increasingly repressive environment, have significantly narrowed the operational space of civil society and have impacted the organization’s operations.

GYLA reports that, due to the prevailing circumstances, it has been compelled to temporarily restrict several key areas of its work, including programs providing free legal assistance to citizens. As a result, thousands of individuals will no longer be able to access the support previously delivered by the organization through free in-person, telephone, and online consultations, preparation of legal documents, and court representation.

The organization further states that, in light of the deteriorating human rights situation, it is transitioning to a crisis-response operational mode. At this stage, legal assistance will be maintained solely within the framework of strategic litigation, while GYLA will continue to monitor and document human rights violations.

Searches of Protest Participants Near Parliament Continue for a Second Day

For the second day, law enforcement officers have been subjecting individuals to searches and identity checks in the vicinity of the Parliament of Georgia. According to the authorities, these measures are being carried out for the purposes of ensuring security and pursuant to the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations. According to law enforcement officials, individuals who refuse to undergo a superficial search will be denied access to the area surrounding the Parliament and the protest site.

According to citizens, the checks are being conducted without the preparation of a written record and are carried out on an oral basis. One individual reportedly requested that a formal record be drawn up; however, law enforcement officers indicated that, in such circumstances, the individual would not be permitted to enter the protest area.

According to the Ombudsperson’s representative’s report, Denis Kulanin is being held in conditions that may amount to inhuman or degrading treatment

On 13 March, information was disseminated regarding a report prepared by a representative of the Public Defender of Georgia, according to which convicted individual Denis Kulanin is being held in conditions that may amount to inhuman or degrading treatment at Penitentiary Establishment No. 8. The report, dated 7 March, notes the presence of cockroaches in the cell, severely deteriorated sanitary facilities, and pillows described as “extremely dirty.”

According to the report, on 8 February Kulanin was transferred from his cell to solitary confinement without being provided with any explanation. He stated that for a certain period he was held without a bed and without access to basic hygienic conditions, including a shower and dental care items. It is further indicated that for a period of time he was not allowed to contact his lawyer or a representative of the Public Defender’s Office.

The report also states that since 3 March Kulanin has been held in a so-called quarantine cell, where, according to his account, sanitary conditions remain poor and he does not have access to his personal belongings or documents.

According to information disseminated on 10 March, activists Zurab Menteshashvili and Denis Kulanin were placed in solitary confinement, where, according to their statements, they were held in conditions that may amount to inhuman or degrading treatment. In a statement issued on 11 March, the Penitentiary Service responded to allegations related to Kulanin’s hunger strike, stating that the convicted individual has been consuming food both provided by the institution and purchased within the facility. The authority did not address the conditions described by the Ombudsperson’s representative.

Verbal Confrontation Reported Between Bystander and Protest Participants Following Demonstration Near Parliament

On 12 March, following the protest, a verbal confrontation occurred between a private individual and protest participants in the underground passage near the First Public School in Tbilisi. According to information disseminated on social media, an unidentified individual, reportedly in an intoxicated state, according to eyewitness accounts – directed aggressive verbal remarks toward a female protest participant holding the Georgian flag.

As reported by Levan Jobava on social media, after attracting the attention of those present, the individual moved toward a police cordon. According to the same source, law enforcement officers did not apprehend the individual at the scene, and he subsequently left the area in the company of police officers without further incident.

Police Conduct Searches of Protest Participants Near Parliament

On 12 March, a notable deployment of law enforcement personnel was observed on Rustaveli Avenue, in the area surrounding the Parliament building, where officers were conducting checks of individuals participating in a public assembly. According to information disseminated on social media by photographer Giorgi Mosiashvili, law enforcement officials were reportedly subjecting all individuals carrying bags to searches.Participants in the assembly indicated that such measures were carried out in the absence of clearly articulated legal grounds or prior explanation, raising concerns regarding compliance with applicable standards. It was further reported that officers were inspecting bags with the apparent purpose of identifying and preventing the entry of tents into the area surrounding the Parliament, thereby potentially restricting the ability of demonstrators to sustain their presence at the site.

Fire Reported in Tent of Activist Darejan Tskhvitariia Near Parliament

On 12 March, activist Darejan Tskhvitariia, who had been spending nights in a tent near the Parliament of Georgia as part of an ongoing protest, stated that her tent caught fire during the night. According to her account, at approximately 3:00 a.m. she heard an unidentified individual shouting that something was burning, and upon going outside, she observed that her tent was on fire. Tskhvitariia expressed the view that the fire may have been set in order to remove the tents. She further stated that, following the incident, her personal belongings were taken from the tent.

According to Tskhvitariia, law enforcement officers arrived at the scene and officers from the Old Tbilisi district police were called. She stated that police officers requested that she leave the area, forcibly took her mobile phone, and removed her from the site using physical force. Notwithstanding the above, she indicated her intention to continue the protest.According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, an investigation has been initiated under Article 188(2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns damage to or destruction of property through negligent handling of fire or another source of increased danger.

Zurab Menteshashvili and Denis Kulanin Report Inhuman or Degrading Conditions of Detention Following Placement in Solitary Confinement

On 10 March, according to publicly available information, Zurab Menteshashvili and Denis Kulanin were placed in solitary confinement, where, according to their accounts, they are being held in conditions that may amount to inhuman or degrading treatment.

According to Menteshashvili’s legal counsel, Jano Chkadua, Menteshashvili is being held in materially inadequate conditions of detention. He is reportedly deprived of basic necessities, including a towel, toothbrush, and hygiene products, and is not provided with the means to maintain minimum sanitary conditions in his cell. Counsel further indicated that the cell is unsanitary and infested with cockroaches. According to the lawyer, Menteshashvili considers that his placement in solitary confinement may be linked to his hunger strike, as the prison administration had repeatedly requested that he discontinue it.

According to Denis Kulanin, on 3 March he and Menteshashvili were transferred to solitary confinement without being provided with any explanation. He stated that their personal belongings, including documents necessary for court proceedings and personal correspondence, were confiscated. He further indicated that they were denied access to telephone communication, outdoor exercise, and bathing facilities. Kulanin reported that the cell is infested with cockroaches, lacks functioning ventilation, and that they are not provided with essential items necessary to ensure basic hygiene. He also stated that they are not permitted to purchase hygiene products or other essential items. In a letter dated 6 March, Kulanin stated that he and Menteshashvili have been on hunger strike since their placement in solitary confinement and requested a visit from the Public Defender of Georgia. He further indicated that they are seeking clarification of the legal grounds for their placement and allege that they are being effectively isolated from both their legal representatives and the public.

The Penitentiary Service denied the reported allegations, stating that Menteshashvili and Kulanin are not held in solitary confinement but are instead placed in so-called quarantine (internal classification) cells. According to the authority, such placement was carried out in accordance with the Penitentiary Code of Georgia and the institution’s internal regulations. The Penitentiary Service also released video footage which, according to its statement, depicts the individuals consuming food and was made public for the purpose of informing the public.

Denis Kulanin has been convicted in connection with damage to a vehicle belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. He is a Russian-born activist residing in Georgia who was convicted in relation to an incident during a protest near the Parliament on 28 March 2025, and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.Zurab Menteshashvili is held in custody under criminal law on charges of repeatedly blocking a roadway. The charges are based on legislative amendments adopted on 16 October 2025, pursuant to which the repeated blocking of a roadway or obstruction of movement during an assembly or demonstration constitutes a criminal offence.

Georgian Dream Proposes Assigning Enforcement of the “Russian Law” to the State Audit Office

On 9 March, the ruling party Georgian Dream introduced a legislative amendment in Parliament proposing that enforcement of the so-called “Russian law” (the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence) be transferred to the State Audit Office. According to the explanatory memorandum, the State Audit Office already exercises oversight and enforcement functions in relation to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and the Law on Grants; accordingly, it is deemed appropriate for the same authority to be entrusted with the implementation of this law. The draft amendments were introduced by Georgian Dream Members of Parliament Archil Gorduladze, Tornike Cheishvili, Rati Ionatamishvili, Aluda Ghudushauri, Davit Matikashvili, Guram Macharashvili, Akaki Aladashvili, Tengiz Sharmanashvili, and Aleksandre Tabatadze.

The so-called “Russian law,” first initiated in 2023, establishes a requirement for civil society organizations and independent media receiving foreign funding to register in a designated registry and is referred to by critics as the “Russian law” due to its similarity to the “foreign agents” legislation in force in Russia. The draft law prompted large-scale public protests and international criticism in Georgia, following which its adoption was suspended in 2023. In April 2024, however, the ruling party reintroduced the draft law in Parliament and, on 28 May 2024, following the override of the presidential veto, the law was adopted.

The law obliges organizations receiving foreign funding to submit annual financial disclosures and provides for sanctions in the event of non-compliance. It has subsequently served as the basis for a series of further restrictive legislative amendments, which critics contend are aimed at suppressing dissent and constraining the activities of civil society and independent media.

Tbilisi Court of Appeals Upholds Five-Year Sentence Imposed on Giorgi Mindadze

On 9 March, the Tbilisi Court of Appeals upheld the five-year term of imprisonment imposed on Giorgi Mindadze. The decision was issued by Judge Tea Leonidze.

According to the investigation, Mindadze was charged with discharging pyrotechnic devices in the direction of an officer of the Special Tasks Department during a pro-European protest held on 29 November, allegedly resulting in a burn injury to the officer’s leg. The case was brought under Article 353¹ of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns an attack on a law enforcement officer.

Mindadze was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on 3 July 2025 by Judge Nino Galustashvili of the Tbilisi City Court.According to the defence, one of the key pieces of evidence in the case is a seven-second video recording obtained from social media, which shows an individual discharging fireworks; however, the footage is not continuous and does not allow for reliable identification of the person. The defence also points to inconsistencies in the testimony of the alleged victim, who stated that the injury was sustained on 29 November but sought emergency medical assistance only on 1 December, raising questions, in the defence’s view, as to whether the injury is in fact related to the events of 29 November.

Saba Gelashvili Subjected to Four Days of Administrative Detention in Sidewalk Case

On 9 March, Judge Tornike Kapanadze of the Tbilisi City Court found Saba Gelashvili liable for an administrative offence related to standing on a sidewalk and subjected him to four days of administrative detention. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia alleged that on 18 December he obstructed pedestrian movement on the sidewalk.

Saba Gelashvili is a former champion of the television program “Book Shelf” (წიგნების თარო). The program responded to the decision with a public statement criticizing Gelashvili’s detention. The statement described the detention of individuals for standing on a sidewalk as “a continuation of a farce” and expressed solidarity with Gelashvili and other detained young people.

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.” The administrative provisions related to the so-called “sidewalk cases” are currently being challenged before the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The constitutional complaint seeks a declaration of unconstitutionality of the relevant regulations, which provide for the imposition of fines or administrative detention on individuals for standing on a sidewalk or roadway.