According to Artem Gribuli’s lawyer, Daria Samodurova, the regime of deprivation of liberty of her client has been changed from a semi-open to a closed regime. The relevant order was served on Gribuli prior to the lawyer’s arrival and, according to the lawyer, is based on a classified session record. Placement in a closed-type penitentiary institution entails significant restrictions on telephone communication and the number of visits. The lawyer indicated that the decision will be appealed.
According to Samodurova, the decision was preceded by an incident involving a penitentiary employee referred to as “Makho”, during which Gribuli was subjected to verbal abuse and threatened with placement in a disciplinary cell and the fabrication of a new criminal case. She stated that the conflict initially arose between the employee and another detainee, after which the threats were also directed at Gribuli.
The lawyer further indicated that, according to the information available to her, the penitentiary system resorted to various methods to increase the perceived “risk” attributed to Gribuli. In her assessment, these actions may be linked to her active submission of complaints.
She further noted that similar circumstances are observed in the case of Anastasia Zinovkina, in respect of whom the order changing the regime of deprivation of liberty has already been appealed before the court.
A prison monitoring officer is currently examining the incidents and subsequent developments. According to the lawyer, the meeting with her client lasted several hours.
Artem Gribuli and Anastasia Zinovkina were detained on 17 December 2024. The Prosecutor’s Office charged them with the purchase and possession of a particularly large quantity of narcotic substances. On 12 September 2025, the court sentenced them to 8.5 years of imprisonment each. They do not admit the charges and state that their detention is linked to their participation in pro-European protest actions in Georgia.
Sesili Butkhuzi was subjected to 3 days of administrative detention on the grounds of standing on a pavement. The decision was issued on 25 March by Judge Manuchar Tsatsua.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Butkhuzi was accused of creating an obstruction to pedestrian movement by standing on the pavement in front of Parliament on 18 December 2025. The first hearing in her case was held on 29 December 2025, after which the proceedings were postponed multiple times.
Representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Butkhuzi’s lawyer, and Butkhuzi herself were not present at the hearing. She learned of the decision in the courtyard of the court, after which she contacted the emergency service and informed law enforcement of her location. She will spend the next 3 days in a temporary detention isolator in Baghdati.
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.”
Levan Khmiadashvili, an energy specialist and civil activist, was found liable for an administrative offence on the grounds of allegedly blocking a roadway during protest marches; however, Judge Manuchar Tsatsua limited the sanction to a verbal warning. Khmiadashvili was accused of blocking a roadway during protest marches held on 31 January and 7 February. According to his lawyer, despite the court limiting the sanction to a verbal warning, the finding of liability itself remains unsubstantiated.
Khmiadashvili stated that he had expected administrative detention, noting that such a sanction is typically imposed in similar cases. He further stated that protest marches and brief gatherings in front of Parliament should not result in repeated court proceedings or be used as a mechanism of pressure against citizens.
On 16 October 2025, Georgian Dream adopted legislative amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia and the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, which significantly restrict the forms through which demonstrators may express peaceful protest. Under these amendments, Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences was supplemented with paragraph 10, providing that participants in assemblies and demonstrations shall be subject to mandatory administrative detention for certain acts. These include, inter alia, covering one’s face with a mask or other means, possessing tear gas or similar substances, intentionally creating obstacles to pedestrian or vehicular movement, installing temporary structures, or partially or fully blocking a roadway.
A violation of this provision is punishable by administrative detention for up to 15 days, or up to 20 days in the case of an organizer. The amendments also introduced changes to the Criminal Code of Georgia, providing that the repeated commission of the above-mentioned acts within a one-year period may result in criminal liability.
On 25 March, by a decision of the Tbilisi City Court, Lasha Katsia, an active participant in ongoing protests, was subjected to 4 days of administrative detention. The decision was issued by Judge Tornike Kapanadze. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he allegedly blocked a roadway on Rustaveli Avenue on 7 February.
Lasha Katsia is the brother of Nika Katsia, who was held in pre-trial detention from 7 December 2024 until 3 September 2025, when the court found him not guilty and ordered his release in the courtroom. Nika Katsia stated that his detention was related to his participation in protest activities.
On 16 October 2025, Georgian Dream adopted legislative amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia and the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, which significantly restrict the forms through which demonstrators may express peaceful protest. Under these amendments, Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences was supplemented with paragraph 10, providing that participants in assemblies and demonstrations shall be subject to mandatory administrative detention for certain acts. These include, inter alia, covering one’s face with a mask or other means, possessing tear gas or similar substances, intentionally creating obstacles to pedestrian or vehicular movement, installing temporary structures, or partially or fully blocking a roadway.
A violation of this provision is punishable by administrative detention for up to 15 days, or up to 20 days in the case of an organizer. The amendments also introduced changes to the Criminal Code of Georgia, providing that the repeated commission of the above-mentioned acts within a one-year period may result in criminal liability.
On 25 March, Amiran Urushadze, a sumo commentator and civil activist, was subjected to 4 days of administrative detention on the grounds of allegedly blocking a roadway. The decision was issued by Judge Tornike Kapanadze.
According to Urushadze’s lawyer, Mikheil Zakareishvili, the only evidence presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs shows that Urushadze briefly stepped onto the roadway for a few seconds in order to listen to a police officer’s statement, after which he returned to the pavement.
According to the lawyer: “He stepped onto the roadway to listen to the police officer, not to block the road. Despite this, Judge Tornike Kapanadze imposed 4 days of detention. The reasoning for the decision is not known at this stage – the ruling has only recently been served, and its justification will become clear upon review.”
On 16 October 2025, Georgian Dream adopted legislative amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia and the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, which significantly restrict the forms through which demonstrators may express peaceful protest. Under these amendments, Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences was supplemented with paragraph 10, providing that participants in assemblies and demonstrations shall be subject to mandatory administrative detention for certain acts. These include, inter alia, covering one’s face with a mask or other means, possessing tear gas or similar substances, intentionally creating obstacles to pedestrian or vehicular movement, installing temporary structures, or partially or fully blocking a roadway.
A violation of this provision is punishable by administrative detention for up to 15 days, or up to 20 days in the case of an organizer. The amendments also introduced changes to the Criminal Code of Georgia, providing that the repeated commission of the above-mentioned acts within a one-year period may result in criminal liability.
Journalist Nanuka Zhorzholiani wrote on social media that she had received a court ruling according to which Prosecutor Ani Khubejishvili requested the extension of seizure measures imposed on charitable foundations.
The case concerns bank accounts that were frozen by a court ruling in March 2025, upon the request of the Prosecutor’s Office, affecting several charitable and non-governmental organisations, including the “Nanuka’s Fund”. According to the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, the seizure measures were imposed within the framework of an ongoing investigation classified as sabotage and assistance to hostile activities, initiated on the basis of a complaint filed by the movement “United Neutral Georgia”, founded by Vato Shakarishvili. The movement was established on 10 July 2024, and its statements are frequently disseminated by media outlets affiliated with the authorities. The organisation is considered to be affiliated with “Georgian Dream” and often reiterates its messaging.“Nanuka’s Fund” is a charitable organisation established in 2020, which has provided assistance to socially vulnerable individuals, persons with serious medical conditions, and, during November–December 2024, was actively involved in humanitarian and social support activities related to pro-European protests.
Keti Kherashvili, a civil activist and the sister of prisoner of conscience Irakli Kherashvili, wrote on social media that she had been contacted by the National Bureau of Enforcement of Georgia and informed that she had been fined GEL 5,000 on the basis of information received from the Patrol Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to her, she had not previously been aware of the existence of this fine and, accordingly, had not paid it. She further stated that this is not the only fine imposed on her in connection with her participation in protests.
Subsequently, Keti Kherashvili wrote on social media that enforcement proceedings had been initiated against her and that the Bureau had applied a seizure measure. According to her, the case reached the enforcement stage and the proceedings were conducted without her having been informed of the existence of the fine.
On 19 March, Judge Tornike Kochkian of the Tbilisi City Court fined activist Magda Mamukashvili GEL 5,000. The Ministry of Internal Affairs accused her of blocking a roadway during a pro-European protest held in front of Parliament on 7 March.
Mamukashvili wrote on social media that this constitutes the second fine imposed on her and that the decision was taken without consideration of her personal and family circumstances. She further stated that, during the court hearing, it was indicated that the sanction was imposed for her brief presence on the roadway, while, according to her, previous incidents involving violence and verbal abuse against her had not elicited any response from law enforcement authorities.
On 16 October 2025, Georgian Dream adopted legislative amendments to the Criminal Code of Georgia and the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia, which significantly restrict the forms through which demonstrators may express peaceful protest. Under these amendments, Article 174¹ of the Code of Administrative Offences was supplemented with paragraph 10, providing that participants in assemblies and demonstrations shall be subject to mandatory administrative detention for certain acts. These include, inter alia, covering one’s face with a mask or other means, possessing tear gas or similar substances, intentionally creating obstacles to pedestrian or vehicular movement, installing temporary structures, or partially or fully blocking a roadway.
A violation of this provision is punishable by administrative detention for up to 15 days, or up to 20 days in the case of an organizer. The amendments also introduced changes to the Criminal Code of Georgia, providing that the repeated commission of the above-mentioned acts within a one-year period may result in criminal liability.
On 17 March, human rights defender Ucha Nanuashvili wrote on social media that he had been summoned for questioning at the State Security Service. According to him, the summons is related to his communication with an expert operating under the OSCE“Moscow Mechanism”.
Nanuashvili stated that an investigator from the State Security Service contacted him following a statement he made on television. In this context, “POSTV Analitika” disseminated a video on social media claiming that Ucha Nanuashvili had allegedly coordinated the report prepared under the Moscow Mechanism. Nanuashvili himself notes that this circumstance became the basis for summoning him for questioning.
Attention was also drawn to this issue during a briefing held by Irakli Kobakhidze on 16 March. In the context of the video disseminated by “POSTV”, a journalist from the pro-government channel “Rustavi 2” asked Irakli Kobakhidze about the possible role of Ucha Nanuashvili and inquired how noteworthy he considered this information. In response, Kobakhidze stated that “it would not be surprising for agents to be in coordination, and this is also evident from the published text; of course, there would have been full coordination with local agents.” Against the backdrop of these developments, Ucha Nanuashvili was summoned for questioning at the State Security Service the following day.
On 18 March, Ucha Nanuashvili was questioned before a magistrate judge. According to Nanuashvili, he provided the OSCE expert with information on the situation in the country and on human rights reports, which, in his assessment, constitutes an attempt to intimidate civil society in order to restrict future communication with international organisations. He further stated that the State itself had an obligation to cooperate with the expert, while paragraph 6 of the “Moscow Mechanism” requires participating States to refrain from any actions against individuals cooperating with the expert — a requirement which, according to Nanuashvili, has been violated.
The case is linked to the report prepared under the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, which was published on 12 March. The report provides a detailed account of the situation in Georgia since 2024, including democratic backsliding, the deterioration of human rights, and the persecution and repression of protest participants and the opposition. The “Moscow Mechanism” was invoked on 29 January by 24 OSCE participating States, leading to the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission, which prepared the report within a limited timeframe.
Activist Megi Diasamidze has been notified to appear before the court in connection with her participation in a protest held on a sidewalk. The Ministry of Internal Affairs alleges that she obstructed pedestrian movement by standing on the sidewalk. According to Diasamidze, as stated on social media, she was contacted by the Tbilisi City Court and informed that the hearing has been scheduled for 31 March.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia accused Megi Diasamidze of obstructing pedestrian movement on the sidewalk in front of Parliament on 18 December at approximately 21:58. On 31 March, a judge of the Tbilisi City Court, Davit Makaridze, subjected Diasamidze to 2 days of administrative detention. A video has been circulated on social media showing Diasamidze calling the emergency number 112 Emergency Service Georgia herself, stating: “I was sentenced to two days for standing on the sidewalk. I want to call the police to come and take me, as is usually done…”Megi Diasamidze, a 23-year-old activist, was previously detained on 10 September 2025 near Lanchkhuti while travelling from Tbilisi to Batumi. The investigation alleged that she inscribed the phrase “Russian Dream” on an election campaign banner belonging to Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze’s campaign headquarters. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the value of the damaged banners amounted to GEL 380. It is noted that the inscription was removed by the municipal cleaning service within approximately three minutes. The Tbilisi City Court released Diasamidze on bail in the amount of GEL 2,000. Her lawyer indicated that her rights were violated at the time of detention, stating that she had not been informed of the reasons for her arrest and had not been allowed to contact a lawyer or her family for a certain period of time. If convicted, Diasamidze faces up to five years of imprisonment under charges related to damage to property.
