Protesters in Tbilisi demanded the release of political prisoners.
On the 534th day of protests, activists held a picket near a Tbilisi metro station demanding the release of political prisoners. Participants in a rally near the Georgian Parliament supported the demand to purchase medications for children with Duchenne syndrome.
As "Caucasian Knot" reported, on May 13, the 532nd day of continuous protests, participants in a rally on Rustaveli Avenue expressed support for the arrested activists and demanded their release. On May 14, a Tbilisi court sentenced two more protesters to administrative arrest – former State Minister for European Integration Alexi Petriashvili and student Natia Chelidze.
A separate rally in support of political prisoners preceded the gathering of European integration supporters on Rustaveli Avenue today. Activists held a mass picket with a large banner reading "Freedom for Prisoners of Conscience" near the Varketili metro station.
The picketers held posters reading: "Georgia is left without young people," "Every fourth child is starving," "No to Russian propaganda channels," "Silence kills," "33 millionaires are members of parliament," "121 political prisoners in prison," "Corruption - children without medicine," "Disinformation is sanctioned," and "We can save 100 children."
In the evening, for the 534th consecutive evening, supporters of European integration gathered outside the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue with national and EU flags. There, protesters held signs reading: "Standing on the sidewalk," "Ivanishvili's unconstitutional regime will follow the path of the Russian ship," "Give the children medicine," "Millionaire MPs, hungry children," "Finance the lives of 100 children," and "For the Motherland, to the end," according to posts by photographer Mo Se and Georgian media on Facebook*.
Parents of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have been camping outside the government chancery since April 20th, demanding modern medications for the treatment of this disease. Today, protesting parents again demanded permission to pitch a tent outside the government building, but police refused, Publika reports.
Protesters outside parliament support the parents' demands. According to the organization "Fighting Together Against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy," there are approximately 100 children with this diagnosis in Georgia. Three of them have died recently, with one of the most recent deaths occurring in early March, Tbilisi_life notes.
Protesters in Georgia have been demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of political prisoners since November 28, 2024. Security forces have violently dispersed the protests, using tear gas and water cannons, and have detained protesters. Thousands of people have been subjected to administrative prosecution during the protests. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report, "The Main Thing About the Persecution of Protesters in Georgia".