First Protester Sent to Detention in ‘Sidewalk’ Protest Case

2026-01-25 - 21:07

Protester Sandro Megrelishvili has been sent to four days in detention after he was found guilty of “obstructing the movement of people” by protesting on a sidewalk in front of Parliament on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue. Tbilisi City Court Judge Davit Makaridze ordered the detention on January 23. Megrelishvili was handcuffed in the courtroom. Sandro Megrelishvili is the first protester to receive administrative detention in the so-called “sidewalk” protest cases. He was accused of obstructing pedestrian movement during a December 17 rally near Parliament. Yesterday, January 22, another protester, Rezi Dumbadze, received a verbal warning. Soon after the first ruling, four more protesters were also sent to days in prison in similar cases. „This is unfortunately not an isolated case, and this is really part of Georgian Dream’s systematic and persistent efforts to silence any dissenting voice in Georgia and also intimidate peaceful protesters,“ EU spokesperson Anita Hipper commented on the matter during a January 23 midday briefing. “We have expressed our position very clearly that these actions are undermining the freedom of expression, assembly, the rule of law, and this is absolutely incompatible with any democratic society.“ Dozens of protesters have been charged with “obstructing the movement of people” during nightly rallies on Tbilisi’s Rustaveli Avenue, where demonstrators have gathered since November 28, 2024. The offense, introduced under the December legislative changes, amid Georgian Dream’s efforts to curb anti-government demonstrations, carries a maximum punishment of 15 days’ detention. Until now, most such cases had been rescheduled or reclassified as criminal matters, which some saw as judges’ reluctance to impose detention for what critics say is no more than standing on a sidewalk during a protest. Note:The news was updated on January 23 17:00 to include comments from EU spokesperson Anita Hipper. Also Read: 20/01/2026 – Public Defender Challenges Protest-Related Restrictions, Penalties in Constitutional Court 16/10/2025 – Georgian Dream Adopts Harsher Penalties For Protest Offenses