Two activists fined in Tbilisi after taking part in protests
A court in Tbilisi sentenced Rusudan and Nutsu Maghradze to fines, finding them guilty of disobeying security forces and hooliganism at the site of a protest on September 2.
As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on September 2, at least 23 people were detained at the site of a protest held on Rustaveli Avenue during a plenary session of the Georgian parliament, where the conclusion of the temporary investigative commission on the prerequisites for the Five-Day War was presented. On September 4, three detainees were fined 5,000 lari (about $1,850).
In February, a parliamentary commission began work in Georgia to study the "crimes of the regime" of Mikheil Saakashvili in 2003-2012. The commission decided to prove that the "Five-Day War" in 2008 was initiated by the third president of Georgia.
A court in Tbilisi found activists Rusudan and Nutsa Maghradze, who were detained at the site of a protest on Rustaveli Avenue on September 2, guilty of offenses, Georgia Online reports.
Rusudan and Nutsa Maghradze, like others detained on September 2, were charged with resisting police officers and petty hooliganism. Judge Lela Tsagareishvili sentenced both to a fine of 4,000 lari (about $1,490), Interpressnews writes.
Recall that protests have been taking place in Tbilisi since November 28, 2024. Activists come out to the Georgian Parliament every day and block Rustaveli Avenue. They demand the release of arrested supporters of European integration and the appointment of new parliamentary elections.
On September 8, the 285th day of continuous protests, the traditional rally near the parliament building was preceded by a meeting of opposition members near the election headquarters of the Georgian Dream and its candidate for mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze. Supporters of the ruling party attacked protesters and journalists on Melikishvili Avenue. Journalists and activists were beaten, and the police reported the launch of an investigation.
It should be noted that in June-July, eight opposition members were sentenced to prison terms for refusing to attend meetings of the parliamentary commission . Leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream linked the imprisonment of opposition politicians to their refusal to recognize the legitimacy of parliament.
Earlier, eight opposition parties announced a boycott of the municipal elections scheduled for October 4. In July, President Mikheil Kavelashvili said he was ready to pardon opposition leaders convicted of failing to attend parliamentary commission meetings in exchange for their participation in the municipal elections. After this, the Lelo - Strong Georgia coalition renounced its boycott of the elections.
On September 5, Kavelashvili pardoned Lelo leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, explaining this by his desire "to leave no one with a reason to talk about limited competitiveness" in the October elections. Khazaradze and Japaridze were released from prison that same day. Representatives of other opposition parties called on them to cancel the decision to participate in municipal elections, which is advantageous to the authorities.
The "Caucasian Knot" collected materials about the parliamentary elections and the protests that followed them on the page "Elections in Georgia-2024".