Activists demand the release of female political prisoners

A protest demanding the release of female political prisoners took place today outside Prison No. 5 in Georgia. Participants demanded medical assistance for political prisoners Anastasia Zinovkina and Nana Sander and called for their release.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", Russian citizens Artem Gribul and Anastasia Zinovkina, who participated in protests in Tbilisi, were arrested in December 2024 on drug trafficking charges. They claim evidence was planted against them and security forces resorted to threats. On September 12, 2025, a Tbilisi court sentenced both to 8.5 years in prison. Protester Anton Chechin received the same sentence on a similar charge. Zinovkina said that on October 29, 2025, she did not receive any help from prison staff for eight hours, although she could not move because of back pain, and the doctor could only offer her "a stronger painkiller that the psychiatrist has." Zinovkina is provided with medical care in prison and does not need inpatient treatment, the Georgian Penitentiary Service stated in response to activists' demands for medical care. In November, the Court of Appeal began considering the complaints of the Russians. During the attacks, Anastasia Zinovkina, convicted in Georgia, cannot get out of bed, the fingers of her right hand and toes have become numb, her fiancé Artem Gribul said.

"Free female political prisoners"—with this demand, female politicians from the "300 Women" protest movement held a protest outside Women's Prison No. 5 today. They brought posters to the site: "The life and health of Nana Sander are in danger," "The life and health of Anastasia Zinovkina are in danger," and others.

The protest organizers addressed a statement to Nestan Verulashvili, director of Women's Prison No. 5, noting that the health condition of Anastasia Zinovkina and Nana Sander is alarming and deserves attention, and that Nestan Verulashvili bears responsibility for it.

"Please do everything necessary for the female prisoners. In particular, the health condition of Anastasia Zinovkina and Nana Sander is alarming and disturbing. According to our information, they are not receiving adequate medical care in prison. "From their telephone and written conversations, we hear and understand that their stay in the cells is unbearable, and their indifference is obvious," said protest participant Teona Chalidze.

Nana Sander is one of the defendants in the case of the October 4 protests. The prosecutor's office charged her with two counts: organizing group violence and calling for the overthrow of the state government. At the court hearing on January 13, Nana Sander spoke about the prison conditions and her health. Sander reported that she has joint problems, as well as heart complaints, and said that she needs the services of a dermatologist and cardiologist, although the prison administration has not yet been able to provide them, writes Publika.

As "Caucasian Knot" reported, on October 4, the day of the municipal elections, thousands of people gathered in the center of Tbilisi. After opera singer Paata Burchaladze read out a declaration In a sign that power in Georgia belongs to the people, clashes between protesters and security forces began near the presidential palace. Security forces used riot gear, protesters used firecrackers. Six demonstrators and 21 security forces were hospitalized, and another 30 people received medical care on the spot. Police have opened a criminal case in connection with calls to overthrow the government, an attack on police officers, and the storming of the palace. Five protest leaders—opera singer Paata Burchuladze, Secretary General of the Strategy Agmashenebeli party Paata Manjgaladze, former Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces Colonel Lasha Beridze, and United National Movement activists Murtaz Zodelava and Irakli Nadiradze—have been arrested on charges of organizing group violence, calls to overthrow the government, and attempting to seize the presidential palace. They face up to nine years in prison. freedom, all five refused to plead guilty. In total, about 60 people have been detained in connection with the case, including Nana Sander.

The attempt to seize the presidential palace was doomed to failure and gave the current government a new opportunity to put pressure on the opposition. The chances of a peaceful change of power remain only if the opposition overcomes its disunity, analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" indicated.

On October 4, municipal elections were held in all municipalities of Georgia. Candidates from the ruling "Georgian Dream" were elected mayors in all 64 cities where elections were held, and in 26 of them received 100% of the vote. These elections will determine the political balance in Georgia for the coming years. The next large-scale elections in the country are scheduled for 2028, so the current vote is essentially key for the government and the opposition, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Municipal Elections in Georgia on October 4, 2025".

"Caucasian Knot" is posting materials about the past municipal elections and protests by opposition supporters on the thematic page "Georgia: Elections Amid Protests".