Activists blocked Rustaveli Avenue despite the threat of arrests.

Protesters in Tbilisi blocked traffic on Rustaveli Avenue on the 327th day of continuous protests. At least five more people were arrested for blocking traffic in previous days.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on October 19, protesters on Rustaveli Avenue blocked traffic despite police warnings. At least seven participants in the October 18 protest were arrested for artificially restricting traffic and concealing their faces.

Participants in the ongoing protest on Rustaveli Avenue again blocked the roadway, despite rainy weather and police warnings of punishment under stricter laws. The protests have now entered their 327th day, Publika reports.

The activists, as before, brought with them Georgian and EU flags, reiterating two unwavering demands: calling new parliamentary elections and releasing those detained for participating in the demonstrations. During the protest, a patrol police unit appeared on Rustaveli Avenue, calling on protesters to clear the roadway.

The protesters greeted calls to leave the roadway under threat of "legal action" with shouts and whistles. They remained on the roadway for some time, chanting "Until the end, until the end!", InterPressNews reports.

Later, the activists reopened Rustaveli Avenue. By the time the protesters began to disperse, police had mobilized near the Freedom Square metro station, where they checked citizens leaving Rustaveli Avenue, demanding identification, and in some cases, conducting body searches. Masks and some other items found on passersby were sealed, and police filed charges against the owners.

Today, five activists detained for blocking traffic on Rustaveli Avenue were sentenced to administrative arrests by the courts. Activist Tamar Totladze was sentenced to six days in jail, while Formula journalist Keta Tsitskishvili was sentenced to five days in jail. Temo Saralidze and Saba Japaridze were also sentenced to six days each. Another detainee, Nino Beruashvili, was sentenced to four days in jail, Tbilisi_life reports.

Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024.. Security forces violently dispersed the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. Over a thousand people were subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has compiled materials about the parliamentary elections and subsequent protests on the page "Elections in Georgia-2024".