A protest outside the Georgian Ministry of Education preceded a rally on Rustaveli Avenue.
Protesters at the Ministry of Education and the Parliament of Georgia, on the 505th day of daily protests, demanded fair elections and the release of political prisoners.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on April 15, the 504th day of continuous protests, protesters on Rustaveli Avenue declared that they would not pay administrative fines, despite the freezing of their accounts.
Supporters of Georgia's European integration held a protest outside the Ministry of Education this afternoon.
“A huge banner declares that there will be no recognition (of the authorities) and demands their resignation. Other banners read: ‘Corruption kills,’ ‘Freedom for prisoners of the regime,’ ‘Georgian land is not for sale,’ ‘Children are starving in Georgia,’” the Tbilisi_life Telegram channel reported.
In the evening, activists with national and EU flags, as usual, gathered on the pedestrian section of Rustaveli Avenue. This action is being held today for the 505th consecutive day, Publika notes.
Protesters held signs: ‘Leave!’, ‘We need fair elections!’, ‘Two million lari for Police Day, zero lari for children’s aid!’, ‘The Hague awaits Kotsov (representatives of the Georgian Dream party - Caucasian Knot note)’, according to publications by photographer Mo Se and Georgian media in Facebook*.
Archimandrite Dorote Kurashvili, who was previously defrocked and suspended from ministry for supporting pro-European protests, also took to Rustaveli Avenue with a poster. He responded to the government's decision to close the airspace around Bidzina Ivanishvili's residence in the southern resort town of Abastumani starting April 16.
Kurashvili held a poster: "Aren't there fines for blocking the sky? Do you only fine people for blocking sidewalks?"
"People who don't block the road, but merely stand on the sidewalk, are fined and arrested, regardless of age, but Bidzina is blocking the sky. This is more than cynicism," Netgazeti quotes him as saying.
Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Security forces violently dispersed the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and detained protesters. Thousands of people were subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report, "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protest Participants in Georgia."