24 March 2025, 22:16
In Georgia, over thousand protesters prosecuted administratively
Overall, 486 people were detained under administrative articles for taking part in Georgian protests; and a total of 1084 people were subjected to administrative prosecution.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that every day since November 28, 2024, supporters of Georgia’s pro-European way have been blocking traffic near the Georgian Parliament demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners.
The above 486 persons were detained under administrative articles; other 600 people are being prosecuted under the article "Violation of the organization and holding of a meeting or demonstration", and one person has been charged with illegal possession of marijuana.
Authorities continue persecuting protesters, but we shouldn’t talk about an increase in prosecutions, since there is a clear lack of administrative resources, Alexander Baramidze, an NGO activist and a former Deputy Minister of Justice.
"I was fined by 5000 laris (USD 1805) for blocking the street near the Parliament ... I appealed against the fine and an answer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) that the period for considering the complaint had been extended to three months ... This is a clear sign that there is a deficit of administrative resources," he has stated.
Among the high-profile cases, Mr Baramidze has named the case of Mziya Amaglobeli, the founder of the “Batumelebi” and “Netgazeti” outlets. On March 18, the judge fined her within an administrative case for insulting a police officer.
The protesters' cases that have caused a huge resonance include the case of Temur Katamadze, who was denied refugee status for the fourth time and faces deportation to Turkey.
The NGO "Centre for Social Justice" has emphasized that an arrest warrant has been issued for Katamadze in Turkey, and he faces torture. He suggests that the warrant may be issued in because of his friendship with activists of Fethullah Gülen's FETO Movement (an organization recognized as terrorist in Turkey, – note of the "Caucasian Knot"), although he himself did not join this movement.
On March 18, a court in Tbilisi refused to grant humanitarian protection and refugee status to Temur Katamadze, a Turkish citizen. He claims that he was subjected to physical violence during his arrest in January, including by Irakli Dgebuadze, the Batumi police chief.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 21, 2025 at 11:42 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Inna Kukudjanova Source: СK correspondent
