Participants in pro-European protests in Tbilisi face criminal prosecution

For the 414th day in a row, supporters of European integration in Tbilisi held a protest, demanding the release of political prisoners. According to activists, security forces are opening criminal cases after peaceful demonstrations on the sidewalk.

As reported by Caucasian Knot, on November 14, supporters of European integration in Tbilisi held a protest for the 413th day in a row, demanding the release of political prisoners. On this day, the activists did not hold a march, deciding to continue the protest at their traditional location near the parliament building.

Supporters of Georgia's European integration held another protest this evening in front of the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue. The demonstrators' demands remain unchanged: the calling of new parliamentary elections; The release of those detained during the protests, Interpressnews reports.

Demonstrators brought flags and banners with various messages to the scene. "Freedom for the prisoners of the regime!" they chanted.

Police patrols have reportedly been mobilized outside the parliament building.

Protesters have declared they are not tired and will stand until their demands are met. "We have been standing firm for 414 days, until we overthrow this corrupt government. We will overthrow Ivanishvili's corrupt regime," TV channel Pirveli reported one protester as saying.

Peaceful demonstrations on the sidewalk could lead to criminal charges against five people. All five have one thing in common: they participated in rallies in recent months, but on the sidewalk and did not disturb anyone. Georgian Dream has also targeted doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili, Publika reported.

Gaprindashvili said that yesterday, January 14, he received a call from the Tbilisi City Court, informing him that an administrative hearing had taken place on January 8, at which Judge Tornike Kapanadze terminated the administrative proceedings and transferred them to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for further action, "as he saw signs of a possible criminal offense."

According to Vazha Gaprindashvili, he is apparently being tried under a criminal statute for standing on the sidewalk. In other words, he is only being accused of standing on the sidewalk. "For them, the road and the sidewalk are apparently the same thing," Vazha Gaprindashvili said.

Activists Konstantin and Kakha Mikai also face prison sentences. Participants in the daily protests have no doubt that Georgian Dream is attempting to intimidate citizens in this manner. They said they wouldn't be surprised if several people were arrested on criminal charges, thereby attempting to put pressure on peaceful demonstrators.

Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. They have been holding daily protests on Rustaveli Avenue. In October 2025, after laws on assemblies and demonstrations were tightened, security forces began mass arrests of protesters on Rustaveli Avenue. Most of them were accused of blocking the avenue and obstructing traffic.

The "Caucasian Knot" also reported that Judge Tornike Kapanadze dismissed the case of civic activist Anna Bdeyan for "blocking sidewalks" and transferred it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for further investigation. Furthermore, Giorgi Tsulaia, an activist with the youth organization "United National Movement," faces up to a year in prison for protesting on the sidewalk in front of the parliament building. The court dismissed the administrative case, finding Tsulaia's actions to be criminal.